"Click Here" to download the 2008 Official Race Program.
"Click Here" to view course maps on Google Earth.
Stage One: Gaps Loop (Click here to view map)
Saturday, December 6th
The following grades start at the Alpine Cycling Club headquarters, Churchill Ave, Bright.
A grade - 141 kilometres. Start time 8:15
B grade - 105 kilometres. Start time 8:20
C grade - 105 kilometres. Start time 8:25
Masters 2/3 - 105 kilometres. Start time 8:30
Masters 4/5 - 105 kilometres. Start time 8:35
The following grades start at Ovens. (LIMITED Transport available to the start)
Women A - 79 kilometres. Start time 8:00am.
Masters 6+ - 79 kilometres. Start time 8:05am.
Women B- 79 kilometres. Start time 8:10am.
Travelling via Coronation Avenue, Churchill Avenue, Delany Avenue, Gavan Street, Great Alpine Road, Porepunkah, Ovens, Happy Valley Road, Rosewhite Gap, Kiewa Valley Highway, Tawonga, Bright/Mount Beauty Road, Tawonga Gap, Great Alpine Road. Finishing at Old Harrietville Road.
A grade only complete extra distance travelling via Mount Beauty to Bogong Village then return to Tawonga Gap.
Stage Two: Individual Time Trial (15.7km) (Click here to view map)
Saturday, December 6th
Reverse Number Start – Start order for the time trial will be reverse number order within each grade. Each rider should check the board for their exact start time. Start times will be displayed at the Alpine Cycling Club Rooms at least 1 hour before the scheduled start.
It is the responsibility of riders to check their own starting times.
Starting at Alpine Cycling Club headquarters, Coronation Avenue, Bright. Out and back course through Wandiligong. Start at 30 second intervals.
Start time 14:00 - Complete start list published on day of event.
Starting order Women B, Women A, Masters 6+, Mens A, Mens B, Mens C, Masters 2/3, Masters 4/5.
Stage Three: Mount Hotham Ascent (Click here to view map)
Sunday, December 7th
Starting at the Alpine Cycling Club headquarters, Coronation Avenue, Bright.
Travelling via Coronation Avenue, Churchill Avenue, Delany Avenue, Great Alpine Road.
The finish is located at The Cross which is at the top of the climb. Spectators are to park their cars at the Loch car park or in the Mount Hotham Village.
Start Times:
The route to Mt.Hotham is one of the most picturesque and challenging for any cyclist. A total of 55kms, the final 30 kms are all uphill, on an ascent to rival those seen in the French Alps. The initial 25kms to Harrietville is relatively calm, as the road winds lazily along the floor of the Ovens valley. At Harrietville the climb starts in earnest, and can be divided into three, ten kilometre sections.
Section one consists of an average gradient of 6.6%, but is punctuated by a 400m long section of 9% known as The Meg at the 5 kilometre point. In between is for good tempo riding, and the smart cyclist will ride efficiently, saving all their reserves for section 3.
Section two is essentially a “false flat” of only 1.8%. Here the average rider can generate some good speed, touching 30kph in sections, particularly if there is a light tailwind.
Section three is where the challenge starts. The average gradient is ‘only’ 4.9% for the section, but is highlighted by some contrasting gradients. The initial ‘pinch’ is 7% for 750m, which is followed 2 kms later by CRB hill ( 10% for 1.1km), and later by Diamantina rise (9.7% for 850m) just before the finish. Between these are two wicked, short descents, where 75 kph is the norm, before the road heads skyward again.