Terra Australis Event Management Pty. Ltd. (TEAM) wish to advise that the 2013 Terra Australis is being cancelled due to low entry numbers and lesser than anticipated Government support. All entrants have been contacted individually and will be refunded 100% of their event entry fees paid to TEAM. 

Online entry for the re-sheduled dates of March 18-22 2013 have now been re-opened.

The Terra Australis Event Management Team has made a decision to postpone the event from the  currently promoted dates of November 2-6 2012 to a new date of March 18-22 2013.

This has been a difficult decision for us to make. There are a few factors that have brought us to this point but please be assured that we explored all the possibilities to continue with the event as advertised. There are elements of the event that we are not prepared to compromise and continuing with the advertised dates would have forced us to do this. We are committed to delivering the best Mountain Bike experience possible.

The new date in March has allowed us to secure access to the Bright Holiday Park as the major staging point of the Event. We think this is a major plus and will create a great atmosphere around the finish line. It will also provide a good value accommodation option for participants that would like to camp for the week or make use of the cabins available at the Park.

We have closed the online entry system and will re-open it again on October 13^th 2012. We have personally notified all the riders who have already entered in the event.

If you have any questions regarding the postponement, please contact Iain Moore via email at iain@finishlineevents.com.au

- 3 Epic Stages

- Time Trial Stage

- X/C Stage

The course for the 2012 Terra Australis has been announced with the 3 epic stages, a time trial and a new X/C style stage described by the organisers as breathtaking, challenging but achievable.

Operations manager for the Terra Australis, Iain Moore said, "In setting the course we were focussed on 5 days of enjoyable cycling through one of Australia's favourite mountain biking destinations. Thankfully the spectacular alpine village of Bright, nestled deep in the Ovens valley provided us with numerous options and we believe that the race format and course will appeal to a broad market".

Of the five days, two will stay close to the race centre with the time trial and the X/C stage making the most of the legendary singletrack that surrounds the village.

"We have introduced an X/C style stage for the first time after the successful introduction of the time trial in 2011" Moore said. Dean Clark, a former competitor who has joined the organising group commented, "Incorporating the X/C stage will help break up the 3 epic stages including the punishing circumnavigation of Mount Buffalo. The two shorter days will really challenge the riders as they will need to be on from the beginning, whereas the epic stages require a more considered approach due to the need to conserve energy for such long days in the saddle".

The structure of the 5 day event is still to be finalised but the Mount Buffalo stage will appear in the first two days, thus leaving it out of the T3 which is the '3 day' Terra that will run over the final 3 days of the 5 day event.

Details of each stage will appear on the Terra Australis website once final plans are established.

Dates for the 2012 Terra Australis were announced today. Stage 1 will begin on Friday 2nd November 2012 and the final stage will be on Tuesday 6th November. The 2012 version of Terra Australis will see some substantial changes. The race will occur over 5 days, whereas in previous years it has been 7 days. For the first time solo entries are available and the entire event will run out of the spectacular alpine village of Bright.

The changes have been implemented after consistent feedback from past competitors. The changes will make the event more accessible to more people and make it easy for competitors to bring along family and friends as support. Having the event based entirely out of the one location will remove the logistical challenges of the previous format. The availability of solo entries will also help ease the pressure of trying to find a ride partner of equal ability and fitness.

The changes to the event are supported by some significant changes behind the scenes. Bicycle Superstore CEO, Nigel Letty, Torq Australia owner, Dean Clark and mountain bike race organiser, Russ Baker have joined Iain Moore and Clayton Neil at Terra Australis Event Management.

Registrations are now open. Keep an eye on www.terraaustralismtbepic.com or go to the Terra Australis Facebook page to join the conversation.  

Photo: Scott Hartvigsen Photography

Terra Australis will be back in 2012. An announcement on the dates, location and some other very exciting developments will be made soon.

 Things you want us to KEEP doing for 2012

 These were the most common responses 

1. Time trial format, but a bit longer
2. Accommodation package and the baggage transport option
3. Quality of the catering package
4. Challenging yet stunning route, particularly stage 5 (Mt Buffalo)
5. Relaxed, family, communal vibe of the event
6. Feed stations and friendly race staff
7. Multiple nights in key towns and finish in Beechworth
8. Later start times on the shorter days
9. Great Mechanics
10. Big climbs rewarded by big descents

Some of the your comments

• Stunning routes, not too easy, not too hard
• Overnight Stops/Accommodation: having the race stop at major resorts/towns ensures heaps of quality accommodation, this is  a major benefit relative to overseas stage races.
• Mt Ebenezer
• ALL the singletrack
• uss Baker, he is invalueable! (could not agree more)
• The awesome trails for T3
• The even spread of towns where generally you stay two or three days is great as you don't have to pack up all the time
• Singletrack sections although would be good to have some earlier if possible as you do not appreciate them as much when you encounter them at the end of a six or seven hour ride
• All the tough tracks & trails - even some wet weather!
• The comfortable accommodation & lovely locations
• All the happy & patient volunteers & great mechanics
• Full support package
• 7 days of hard riding in the pairs format

Photo: Scott Hartvigsen Photography

Things you want us to START doing for 2012

These were the most common responses

1. More concise stage briefing each night
2. Early presentations and stage briefings
3. Enduro style time trial
4. Solo entries
5. More family friendly
6. Accurate distance and profile summaries
7. Climber’s prize
8. Improved course signage
9. Better event updates for the outside world

Some of your comments
 

Photo: Scott Hartvigsen Photography

Things you want us to STOP doing for 2012

These were the most common responses

1. Stage 3 saw tooth section
2. Hike a bike – use only if necessary
3. Wait times for transport
4. Late rider briefings
5. Inaccurate distances for stage briefings
6. Singletrack at the END of stages for the sake of having singletrack

Some of your comments (what would you like us to STOP doing next year?)
 

 

Photo: Scott Hartvigsen Photography

The rain, the mud and the cold made the 'Queen' stage, the circumnavigation of Mount Buffalo the favourite stage for the competitors this year. Two of Australia's elite riders were a little more clear headed than the rest of the field with one observing that they had just climb Mount Buffalo twice. The response, "this is a day we will talk about when we play remember when. Remember when we circumnavigated Mount Buffalo, climbed the bloody thing twice in the driving rain through mud that stuck to your tyres like nothing else and lived to tell the tale".

What was your favourite stage?

1. Stage 5: Bright to Bright (Circumnavigation of Mount Buffalo) 29%
2. Stage 2: Falls Creek to Dinner Plain 24%
3. Stage 7: Beechworth to Beechworth 24%

Note: There were no votes for stage 3. Surprised?

Brad Davies was in a contemplative mood at the end of stage 5. His mud splatered jersey and face tells the story of the day.

If any photo captures the true character of Mark Fenner, then this is it. Also taken at the end of stage 5.