The next generation of cycling events revealed for the Snowy Mountains, including the most challenging, and the highest ride in Australia – 271km / climbing 5,025 meters.
Lateral Events, the owners of L’Étape Australia by Tour de France, will stage the next generation of cycling events with their new Drops + Hoods event in the Snowy Mountains from December 2-5.
Unlike the many single day amateur road rides that have proliferated over the past few years in Australia, Drops + Hoods (referring to the bike handlebars) is:
- Multiple Days
- Multiple Surfaces
- Multiple Distances<
- The official legacy event of L’Étape Australia by Tour de France in the Snowy Mountains
- The most challenging, and the highest, ride in Australia – 271km / 5,025m
- More than a cycling event: ‘This is Our Village’ will include night-time entertainment, hospitality, and a warm community welcome
Drops + Hoods was developed based on the feedback received from thousands of riders, augmented with learnings from the global pandemic.
Rather than one massive ride, Drops + Hoods combines multiple medium-sized rides, making them low impact for the local community, fun to ride and safe to operate.
This pioneering event delivers the cycling experiences riders asked for that are not available elsewhere and is not just another single-day road ride.
Multiple surfaces
Road, gravel, and mountain bike events give riders the chance to try something new, mix up their disciplines, bring the whole family, and ride with their friends – there is something for everyone.
Multiple distances
From the short and easy, through to Australia’s most challenging, again – there is something for everyone. Riders can bring with them those new to cycling, to absorb the thrill, euphoria, and camaraderie of a major cycling event, with a challenge they will be comfortable with.
Multiple Days
Run over four days, making the trip to the mountains really worthwhile; Drops + Hoods enables riders to try their legs on different routes, different levels of difficulty as well as new surfaces. All the while they can explore the stunning Snowy Mountains that has so many experiences to offer.
The Official L’Étape Australia by Tour de France Legacy event.
Drops + Hoods is organised by the owners of L’Étape Australia, that put the Snowy Mountains on the map for cyclists since 2016. Drops + Hoods introduces the official legacy routes of the L’Étape Australia Race and Ride.
Announcing the most challenging, and the highest ride in Australia – 271km / 5,025m
Not for the fainthearted, this ride will test riders’ endurance. At 271km with 5,025 height meters, this ride takes cyclists over the highest paved road in Australia: Charlotte Pass.
Starting in Jindabyne, travelling to Rocky Plains, Berridale, Dalgety, Beloka, past Thredbo to Siberia, then Perisher, Charlotte Pass (the highest paved road in Australia), before a long descent to Jindabyne and a well-earned Kosciuszko Pale Ale.
“We are thrilled to be back in the Snowy Mountains with Drops + Hoods for many years to come. I am looking forward to seeing road cyclists, gravel riders and mountain-bike riders sharing their passion for cycling, having some banter on what discipline is the best and enjoying the beautiful Snowy Mountains with their friends and family,” said Lateral Events Head of Sport, Florent Malézieux.
Drops + Hoods is planned to run from Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 December 2021, with later dates also scheduled in case COVID-19 rules out a December event. Registrations will open when restrictions are eased in NSW. Riders are encouraged to register their interest at
Visit the Drops + Hoods website for more information and to register.