FAQ's
What is a multi day – multi stage Mountain Bike race?
Most cyclists and indeed many non-cyclists are aware of the Tour De France. This is the most famous of the stage races in cycling. The idea behind Terra Australis is not too dissimilar. There are some obvious differences in that this is a Mountain Bike race not a Road race and it is available to all and sundry to come and ride not just the top Pro’s in the world. How it works is pretty simple, each day the race begins as a massed start with all riders being given the same start time. When you cross the finish line we work out how long it took you to complete the course for the day. We then do it again the next day and add your time for day 1 (stage 1) to day 2. The team with the quickest time over the 2 days is the leader. Day 3…4…5 and so on until after day 7 we have an accumulated time for all teams and a race winner.
Is Terra Australis a race or more of a participation event?
Terra Australis is about a lot more than just trying to win. Many participants will be in the race just for the fun, adventure and the experience that they will take away with them. Sure, we will record and publish their times and placing’s but more for personal reference than any sense of competitiveness.
How long is each stage of the race?
Each stage distance will vary. Some days will get close to if not just over the 100Km mark and others will be shorter at about 50 – 60Km. Once the course for each day is finalised we will post the info (distance – elevation profiles – course description) on the relevant page of the website.
What sort of terrain will the course cover?
The terrain will vary from day to day and stage to stage. The trail types will range from graded dirt roads to rough rocky fire trails to sweet single track. The type of scenery and vegetation will also change as the course progresses from the high alpine trails well above the snow line to the lush valleys of North East Victoria below. We are designing the course to encompass as much as we can of the Mountain Bike experience on offer in the region. There won’t be too much of any one thing in a given day except for Mountains and Hills. There are plenty of those to climb over. The up side (pardon the pun) to climbing is descending and there will be plenty of that also.
What’s the overall course elevation and profile?
Course stats including elevation profiles, distances and trail descriptions can be found on the website. As each stage is finalised we will post the info on the relevant page. Check back regularly for updates and sign up to receive our newsletter for news on course developments and all things TERRA AUSTRALIS.
Will there be any bitumen road sections?
There will not be a lot of bitumen road riding in the course but unfortunately there will be some. Rest assured we will be trying to keep the bitumen road sections to an absolute minimum.
Will there be any sections of the course that will require walking your bike?
We are not planning to have any compulsory walking sections in the course unless the relevant land managers force us to. There may be some short sections of the course that are too steep for some riders and walking will be an option. This of course will depend on each rider’s fitness and strength. For those of us who can’t make it over some of the climbs without a dismount and a little stroll (I have included myself in this category) don’t worry, there will be plenty of others in the same situation and you should only have to walk for a few minutes.
How technical will the single track be and how much of the total course distance will be single track?
The single track will not be overly technical but more flowing and fun. Riders with a bit of experience in 3/6/12/24 hour enduros will be able to handle the single track trails. If you are inexperienced on single track then you will probably want to introduce some single track riding into your preparation. You can enter a local enduro with your team mate to get some race experience or take a skills clinic. Either way get into it; it is definitely the most enjoyable aspect of Mountain Biking. As far as distance goes it will be as much as we can get that is available here in the region. That said, to cover the distances we are covering each day the greater proportion of trails will be fire roads and double track trails. They will still be challenging and fun even though it’s not single track.
What will happen if my team doesn’t make a cut off time on a particular stage?
Missing a cut off is not a complete disaster. You won’t have to withdraw from the event. Unfortunately you wont get to call yourself a Terra Australis finisher but you will get to complete the remainder of the stages. If you miss a cut off time we would strongly recommend you go on to ride the remaining stages of the race.
What if my team mate is unable to continue the race?
If your team-mate cannot continue you will not be allowed to continue alone.
We will try and match you up with someone else in the same situation forming another team. You will not be classified as an official finisher because you didn’t finish with your registered team but will get to ride out the rest of the event.
Where and how far apart are the feed stations?
There will be 2 feed stations on every stage and if the temperatures get high enough there will be a third water point added. The exact locations will be marked on the stage info pages once the stage info has been finalised. As a general rule the feed stations will be about 1/3rd and 2/3rd into each stage.
Are we able to have our own food and drink bottles at the feed stations?
No. The Feed Stations will have a variety of snacks and water but if you want something specific as your own brand of energy drink then you will have to carry that with you throughout the day’s stage.
I am just a “weekend warrior” is Terra Australis for Pro’s only?
No it’s not just for the Pro’s. In fact Terra Australis is more about the “weekend warrior” than it is about the Pro’s. With a little bit of extra preparation and training over the summer every “weekend warrior” should be able to complete the event. I don’t want to give you the impression it will be easy because it won’t. For some it will be the challenge of a lifetime with highs and lows, good days and bad, but for me that is the appeal of this type of endurance event.
Is it possible to ride the course before the event?
Some parts of the course are on private property and cannot be ridden without the permission of the landowner. We ask all competitors and potential competitors to respect the rights of the private landowners who are allowing us to use their property for the event. Most of the course is on public land and can be ridden at any time by any one. Some of the public land is closed in winter but between November and May is generally accessible to Mountain Bikes.
