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.
– 3 Epic Stages
– Time Trial Stage
– XC Stage
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 XC stage making the most of the legendary singletrack that surrounds the village.
“We have introduced an XC 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 XC 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.