GMHBA BACKS UP FOR GEELONG TOUR

Health insurance fund GMHBA has renewed its major naming rights sponsorship of the Tour of Geelong road cycling classic, to be held from August 11 - 15.

The tour, which incorporates the Victorian open road championships, was conducted for the first time last year and attracted an amazing 600 entries.

The five-day tour, to be raced in six stages, will be an important promotional vehicle for the WorldRoadChampionships, to be held in Geelong from September 29 - October 3.

The tour is backed by the City of Greater Geelong and Geelong Major Events. Both organisations linked with Caribou last year to create a cycling race which would serve as a lasting legacy from the world titles for the regions.

GMHBA's chief executive Mark Valena said GMHBA was excited about its participation in the tour.

"The tour got away to a flying start last year and brought unlimited benefits to the region," he said.

Tour director John Craven said GMHBA's sponsorship renewal was an uplifting advancement for the growth and development of the event.

"It's wonderful to have GMHBA and the City of Greater Geelong so actively enthusiastic about their involvement in this project," he said.

Geelong's Mayor Cr. John Mitchell said the Tour of Geelong was an exciting addition to the region's major events calendar.

"Geelong was selected as the host city of the 2010 UCI World Road Championships because of the quality of our race circuit and our proven ability to stage major events," said Cr. Mitchell.

GMHBA was founded in Geelong in 1934 and celebrated its 75th anniversary during last year's inaugural Tour of Geelong.

Now a national body, GMHBA is Victoria's fourth largest health insurance fund and Australia's eighth biggest, with 86,000 members and covering 180,000 people.

To view outlines of the Tour's course just click below.

                        THE COURSE

                                    (as proposed JUNE 18, 2010)

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