ORGANISERS of a new cycling race around the Highlands’ most famous tourist attraction believe it could become a massive money-spinner for the north.
About 1,250 riders will take part in the 67-mile Etape Loch Ness next month – and provide a seven-figure bonanza for local businesses in the process.
The team behind the new road race also masterminds the annual marathon and festival of running at the beauty spot.
This attracts thousands of competitors every year – and a study revealed that 2013’s event generated £1.6million for the local economy. The benefits of the cycling event on Sunday, May 4, will be scrutinised in the same way.
But organisers are confident it will provide a similar boost for hotels, guest houses, restaurants, shops and cafes as more than a fifth of those due to take part in the Etape Loch Ness live outside Scotland.
Event director Malcolm Sutherland, of Caledonian Concepts, said: “When we came up with the idea of having a closed-road cycling event around Loch Ness, we hoped that it would strike a chord with cyclists in much the same way as the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon has with runners.
“We believe that Etape Loch Ness has significant growth potential.
“But more than that we want to establish the Highlands as a cycling destination, and encourage more cyclists to come here year-round to enjoy truly stunning routes that we are so lucky to have right here on our doorstep.”
Graeme Ambrose, from the Inverness Bid tourism steering group, runs a self-catering holiday business on the banks of the loch.
He said: “We’ve come to realise the benefit the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon brings to the local economy, and we see Etape Loch Ness doing exactly the same thing.
“It’s important that we don’t just think about this as being 1,250 cyclists. It’s 1,250 cyclists who are coming with friends and relatives and who will draw local people out on to the streets to spectate.
“There will be a large contingent of cyclists from the Highlands, but we cannot discount them from the equation as the day-trip market will also have a substantial impact.
“Having an event like this significantly raises the profile of Inverness and Loch Ness on a national and international level.”
The Etape Loch Ness will start and finish at Eden Court in Inverness and will follow a 67-mile anticlockwise loop of the loch, going through Drumnadrochit, Invermoriston, Fort Augustus, Foyers and Dores.
Riders will start between 6.30am and 7am, with rolling road closures while they pass through. The routes, including the main A82 Inverness-Fort Augustus road, are expected to be fully reopened by 1pm.
The event is a sellout and organisers had to offer extra places after the initial 1,000 slots were snapped up in hours.