The ride departed from Littleton Park at 9am and competitors were led out by the SES with support from the Bega Police through the traffic lights and to the highway.

Special guest Michael Milton joined the ride complete with three-year-old daughter Matilda in the child bike seat as passenger.

The stream of riders with their bright green CanTeen shirts was quite a sight as the group of riders made their way to Merimbula.

The participants included some people that have done the ride many times and others that were doing it for the very first time.

The event included the introduction of pace riders in an effort to keep the ride group more compact and less spread.

Local cycling group recently named the “Tools on Tour” handled these duties on the day as pace riders and also gave assistance and encouragement among the pack.

This was an extremely successful addition to the event.

The riders enjoyed some goodies at the rest stops.

Participants and their support crews were treated to lunch in the underneath carpark at the Merimbula Imlay Bowling Club with lunch and drinks provided.

Ride organiser Andy Willis thanked the club for their continued support which has seen them provide lunch free of charge for many years now.

The riders were assisted out of the Merimbula CBD by the police and headed off for the long uphill out of town to the next major rest stop at Wolumla Hotel before continuing back to Bega with a few cheers from the Wolumla Primary School students as they departed.

There was a big cheer squad from students at Sapphire Coast Anglican College that were treated to some high fives from Milton as he rode along the cheer line.

Riders then re-grouped at South Bega for the final run into the town where they were greeted by a massive cheer squad of Bega High School students that really made the riders feel proud after their 66 kilomete challenge.