The Share the Road Tour is a showcase of the Australian ride. The 2018 tour through the Victorian high country, will challenge the weekend warriors as we ride from Wodonga to Melbourne. Our goal is to highlight to the Victorian Government the importance of “a metre matters”. Our mission is to top and share the message along the way.
On Amy’s share the road tour anything is possible, bring your e-bike and take it to the bunch. Ride any bike at all so long as you ride some of the distance each day .
Your fundraising goal is individual, the the ride goal is $250,000.
The 2018 Share the Road tour is your chance to ride with pro’s who are fantastically accessible and who will share tips, skills and their ongoing passion for the ride on each of the challenging stages.
Pre Tour – Wodonga
Saturday 10 November 2018, arrival
Welcome to Wodonga.
Your accommodation tonight is at the Wodonga Quest Apartments, 46 Reid St, Wodonga VIC. Check in: any time after 1400. Travel option: 1205 V-Line from Southern Cross will have you in Wodonga at 1532 with time to spare and a no stress arrival. Bike set up and welcome any time after 1600. Join us in the Lobby at 1900 for the AGF 2018 Share the Road Tour Dinner, at Miss Amelie, Station Building, 46 Elgin Blvd,
Day 1 – Wodonga to Falls Creek, 123km – ride link
Today is our first day and if traditions are anything to go by the 2018 Share the Road Tour will adhere to traditions and we will roll out of Wodonga in groupetto style.
We will skirt Lake Hume and Tangambalanga as we roll down the Kiewa Valley, a flatish start to our 2018 STR campaign. There is a Mountain top destination and we expect significant elevation aggregates.
For those not terribly interested in the hard bunch ride to Mount Beauty before the climb perhaps contemplate the easily achievable challenge of just the climb on the first day, it’s up to you.
Each day the groups will break up and roll out at a level that suits you. You will be given opportunities to make decisions where and when you want to start or finish your ride and how you can keep up.
Day 2 – Falls Creek to Bright via Omeo 187km – ride link
We leave the Victorian Alpine resort of Falls Creek, heading to beautiful Bright on the longest and possibly most arduous day of our tour. A circuitous mountain route from Falls Creek to Anglers Rest, Omeo, Cobungra, Dinner Plain, Mount Hotham, Harrietville then onto Bright. A reverse 3 Peaks if you like, today is a day for the endurance climber and one that includes all the technical elements of riding in the Victorian high country.
This ride takes us through the snow gums of the Bogong Plateau,before a descent into picturesque Anglers Rest, more climbing to Mt Hotham at 1840m and a final descent to Bright.
Even if one were to consider a shortcut via Mount Beauty the Tawonga Gap climb would make that 60km segment a tough day. We will break the day down into achievable segments for those who are not up to 3 Peaks just yet.
Day 3 – Bright to Mansfield 161km – ride link
We head into classic Victorian high country today departing Bright for Myrtleford skirting the Mount Buffalo National Park as we go. A gorgeous bumpy downhill ride that is easily accomplished starts the ride before a gentle increase of tempo up some small climbs enroute to Chestnut and Whitfield. There is a morning gravel segment to consider in this first half with the option, as always to transfer across.
From Whitfield the hard work begins with a long 21km climb that starts with a solid 10km segment at 6%. 5km’s of undulations will give the legs some recovery before that last 6km tilt to the summit of the Whitlands climb. Rolling over the top through forested roads to Tolmie,the final descent to Mansfield when it comes is a great ride making all the work well worth the effort.
Day 4 – Mansfield-Mt Buller-Mansfield 95km – ride link
A day for the climbers to race, for the rest, a climb that is achievable, all in good time!
Today’s ride is from Mansfield to Mt Buller return. The climbing starts from Mansfield, a gradual grind to Merrijig and the Sawmill Settlement before Mirimbah and the gates to the Mount. In your smallest gear already the start of this climb looms and there may be the odd thought of abandonment.
The first one to two km’s is tough but once you push through Bulla is a nice rhythmic climb due to the consistency of the gradient at 7%. There are enough flat segments for riders of any level to rest and gather resources for each segment and eventually make it to nearly the top. At 1km to go it is nasty, save a little in reserve if you can.
Day 5 – Mansfield to Marysville 139km – ride link
We are drawing near to the end of our tour and as we head south out of Mansfield the landscape changes gradually from the high country forests to the high grazing country made famous by the legend of the Man from Snowy River.
We cross the Lake Eildon at the Howqua river and follow lake for awhile before heading towards Jamieson. For many years Phil Anderson commenced his pre season training from Jamieson doing repeat efforts on our next climb that fortunately we only have to manage once.
We do thankfully cover a bit of ground during our descent to the Big River arm of Lake Eildon and the lower Goulburn where we can rest before our last real climb of the tour. The roads to Mt Torbreck are forested and technical but beautiful riding on the ascent and descent to the valley road that will continue through the wooded valley and gradually changing countryside to Marysville.
Day 6 – Marysville to Melbourne 99km ride link
A final 99km will see us to the heart of Melbourne where we hope to highlight to the Vic State Government they have some legislation to attend to!
Our ride begins with a gradual climb through forested roads as we head inexorably towards the Dom Dom Saddle at the 40km point of the ride. More than half the elevations of this climb are gained by the time the real pain begins on the short kick 2.5km kick to the top, nevertheless the 17.5% pinches will be demanding.
A long sweeping descent through the Black Spur temperate rainforest to Healesville follows and as we enter the Yarra Valley the roads widen out on the outskirts of leafy Melbourne. A short break, a regroup and we finish the ride in the heart of Melbourne.