WANGARATTA is moving into top gear to become Australia’s premier cycling tourism destination.

Plans to boost domestic marketing, go global with the region, and expand local infrastructure and bike terrain were unveiled yesterday.

A new Cycle Tourism Strategy specifically aims to expand the appeal of the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail, identify new cycle tourism business opportunities, and increase the number of trails available for mountain bike riders.

Wangaratta - already the start and finish point for many riders on the rail trail which stretches to Beechworth and Bright - is likely to become an even more attractive cycling hub with the Warbys and the Glenrowan area in line for the development of more facilities for cyclists.

The strategy is a joint initiative of the Rural City of Wangaratta, Alpine and Indigo councils, and it was launched at Sam Miranda Wines in the presence of Bicycle Victoria chief executive officer Harry Barber.