ONE of the premier junior racing events on the calendar comes to the region next week, with the Alpe de Buffalo returning from April 12-13.

Round one of the AusCycling Victorian Junior Road Series and Run over two days with three exciting stages, it offers a wonderful opportunity for junior road riders to challenge their skills.

The course is challenging but accessible to the junior riders, with three stages over two days.

Stage one consists of 1.3km criterium circuit around Pioneer Park in Bright on Saturday, 12 April, before stage two takes riders on and out-and-back time trial down Back Germantown Road.

The event culminates in the Junior Hillclimb Championship up Mount Buffalo on Sunday, with riders challenged by the steep ascent, set to finish at the historic mount Buffalo Chalet.

“The Alpe de Buffalo is an important race because it a grass roots event that gives junior riders access to try road racing in a safe but challenging environment,” a spokesperson for the Alpine Cycling Club said.

“This junior Victorian series has been the beginning of many professional Australian cyclist and some Olympians too.”

The Alpe de Buffalo commenced for the first time in 2009 as the State Junior Mountain Climbing Championships, and it was elevated to National Championship status in 2010.

After lobbying Cycling Australia the Under 19’s event became a selection race for the Junior World Championships.

With the elevation of the Under 19’s to National Championship status and a selection race, the event had reached the pinnacle in three short years, and was now acting as a genuine springboard for the juniors stepping into the senior ranks.

The event continued to grow in popularity with entry numbers nearing 200 competitors from all over Australia.

It is considered by many who attend the event to be the most challenging and best run junior road event in the country.

Cycling Victoria sadly decided to relinquish the National Championship status for the event but it remains a popular and important event in the junior road racing calendar.

The 2025 Alpe de Buffalo runs from April 12-13 – for more information, visit alpinecyclingclub.com.au or check out Alpine Cycling Club on Facebook.