GRAN Fondo cyclists will race through the Perth Hills after organisers committed to major changes to the route for the September event.

Shire of Mundaring President David Lavell said the event trial in March was a disaster, with the race “effectively cutting the Shire in half”, which resulted in thousands of people stuck in traffic and unable to leave their properties.

“The Shire would not approve any route that used Great Eastern Highway, Stoneville Road or Toodyay Road,” he said.

“The Shire is pleased to note the route will now travel from Perth to Kalamunda, across Mundaring Weir Road and down Phillips Road to Glen Forrest, weaving through Darlington and Boya,” he said.

Cr Lavell said Shire officers had worked closely with organisers to ensure better communication and traffic management would be in place for the final race on September 4 (Father’s Day).

“Access to areas affected by the race will be possible through designated detours and managed intersections,” he said.

“While there will some inconvenience in the morning when riders come through, no residents will be ‘locked in’.”

The Shire’s budget for 2016-17 included $10,000 towards the promotion of the Gran Fondo event.

More than 1000 international, national and local cyclists will ride from Elizabeth Quay across Perth to finish in Kalamunda.

Gran Fondo begins with a time trial at Rottnest Island on Thursday September 1, with a mainland team relay the following day and the final race uphill to Kalamunda on Father’s Day.

Female riders and men aged 55 years and over will race a 105.8km course, while male cyclists aged under-55 to complete an extra loop, and finish in the same location after 154.5km.

Cr Lavell said hosting the international event was beneficial to the state profile and economy, and he encouraged the community to come out and support the riders.

“Spectators will be able to best view the riders from Mundaring Community Sculpture Park, in Mundaring and Morgan John Morgan Reserve in Glen Forrest, where the Shire will be running some community events,” he said.