What to expect at Lasseters Easter in the Alice

The Lasseters Easter in the Alice is just a month away. In 2017 the 3 day stage race in Alice Springs has refined the iconic Central Australian bike race to 3 stages. All killer, no filler. With time to travel over the Easter long weekend, and race lengths meaning you’ll have the afternoon to yourself, this years Easter in the Alice could be the perfect time to explore Alice Springs. By bike in the morning, and by foot, car, camel our quad bike in the afternoon. Or just relax and enjoy the down time in the afternoon – you’re on holiday!

The race has changed a little over the years, so here’s a look at what the three days in 2017 have in store.

Stage 1 at Easter in the Alice – Saturday 15th April

This is the big one. It’s not just the first stage of the race, but it’s also the 3rd round of the National XCM Series, with ranking points and prize money on the line. Expect the likes of Andrew Blair, Brendan Johnston, our own Justin Morris, Jenny Blair, Briony Mattocks and more to be duking it out in their respective races.

With an early start, the race is a little shorter this year at 75km, and with 800m of climbing you might think it could be easy. But that discounts the pinch climbs and singletrack of Alice. With a route that takes in the best trails, and intersperses singletrack with fire so you have the chance to pass, eat and drink, it should be one of the best days on the bike you’ll have all year. Riding handcrafted trails under the morning sun with the West MacDonnell ranges behind you is a truly unforgettable experience.

You can download the course map here.

Stage 2 at Easter in the Alice – Sunday 16th April

Day two is a nice reprieve, with a 24km route planned that has 300m of climbing. Today’s route takes in the more technical trails that abound in Alice. The trails at Easter in the Alice are all about desert riding, and much of that is over the rocky outcrops where the trails have been built.Today favours the technical riders, but thanks to the shorter length you’ll be back in the pool at Lasseters in no time.

You can download the course map here.

Stage 3 at Easter in the Alice – Monday 17th April

Day 3 of the Easter in the Alice is going out with a bang! The course organisers say it will be fun and flowing. With 37km of trails to race, and 350m of climbing, you can expect a day of 1.5 – 2hrs. Quick enough to get the afternoon flight home if you have to, or to leave enough time to relax after 3 days of some of the best mountain biking in Australia.

Today’s route does a big loop of the Telegraph Station, with a flat and open start to sort the group out before the singletrack begins. The last stage will be no parade, but it will be an awesome morning on the bike.

You can download the course map here.

Why you should be racing Easter in the Alice

This is easy – it’s a well-run club race that has national significance due to the XCM National Round. What’s this mean? It means the club that runs it does an exceptional job, from feedzones, course marking and preparation, event feel and running the race professionally.

More than that, the trails truly are some of the best in Australia. They haven’t been built with a digger and a 1m wide scoop. They have been crafted by local riders, sometimes on kangaroo trails, or just to take the best line over a small ridgeline. The trails in Alice flow like few others in Australia, and with minimal climbing there’s  plenty of grins. There’s over 300km of trails around Alice. Easter in the Alice barely touches the surface.

The event hub at Lasseters is hard to beat. There’s a bar, a pool and a couple of restaurants to choose from. You don’t need to pack up and leave each day, and you finish right on the grass out the front each stage. The perfect place to grab some water, some food, and share your excitement with those you were just racing with.

What to take to Easter in the Alice

We’ve outlined what you should take to races in Alice Springs in the past, but the key things to remember for Easter in the Alice are:

• Strong tyres setup tubeless with lots of sealant, due to the sharp rocks and thorns.
• Take a spare tyre and sealant too
• A small hydration system is handy for Stage 1 – but just as useful for the other stages given the volume of singletrack.
• It’s dry out there – use a chain lube that copes with lots of dust. We use Ride Mechanic Bike Mix.
• It can also be wet, so take a jacket.
• Beer money – you’ve got lots of time to chat with other riders if you’re hanging out at Lasseters
• Hydralyte or something similar – there’s a good chance the first stage could knock you around if you don’t drink properly.

Paying bills at Easter in the Alice

It’s a fact that racing in Alice Springs can be expensive – it’s not cheap to fly out there from most state capitals. But the event entry is one of the cheapest around at $190, marginally more than some marathon event entries. There’s also a lot of prize money up, with a prize pool of over $12000. This includes the elite prize money, and spot prizes and random draws. You can find the full details online.

Class	Total	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
Elite Men	$2,950	$1,100	$700	$500	$400	$250
Elite Women	$2,950	$1,100	$700	$500	$400	$250

So why not pack your bike up and go? If you haven’t been, it is hard to explain why the riding out there is so good, and why it is also well-suited to racing. The trail and course design, the event crew and the location add up to make an unforgettable experience. Tie in some cycling specific films this year, and a pretty impressive start list as the lite riders vie for the win, and it should be a great long weekend of mountain biking in Australia’s red centre.

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