News has come though from Lateral Events that it has cancelled its L’Etape Australia Tour de France event for this year.

The cancellation has come after Kiama Council was unable to guarantee that Jamberoo Mountain Road will be open in time for the race on 27 November. This is the fourth time the scheduled event has not taken place.

“Following advice from Kiama Council concerning the three to four months required for the repair works, L’Étape Australia cannot be 100 per cent certain the road will open in time for the 26-27 November event. Therefore, L’Étape Australia will not take place in 2022,” says a statement from the organiser.

Sixty metres of Jamberoo Mountain Road has failed, with erosion of the base and fracturing of the tarmac.

This section of road was to be used twice for the 2022 Race route and once for the Ride route.

At last night’s July Council Meeting, the Director of Engineering & Works, Mike Dowd, said he could not provide a guarantee the road would be open then, “I hope and plan to have it reopened by then – if not, then at least a single lane.”

The event is currently being heavily promoted during the Tour de France coverage.

All registered riders will receive a refund over the next 21 days. 

More information and reaction as it comes to hand.