Sunday 8 March 2009
Hotham Challenge Ride (see below)
Post Ride BBQ at Rundells in Dinner Plain

Criterium Ride in Dinner Plain

Monday 9 March 2009
Fun ride to Blue Duck Inn, Anglers Rest for lunch (72kms)

Return transport for bikes is available.

Hotham Challenge Ride 
Conquer the highest bituminised road in Australia – simply choose the ride which best suits your ability:
Dinner Plain to Buckland Gap Return (45km)
Dinner Plain to Harrietville Return (80km)

Dinner Plain to Bright Return (128km)

See below for a full description of the ride

Check out the 2008 Jersey - Free with entry....

Post Challenge Ride BBQ Lunch - Friends & Family

Family & Friends are invited to celebrate the success of the participants at the Post Challenge Ride BBQ lunch

Cost - TBC

Fun Ride to Blue Duck Inn, Anglers Rest

Enjoy a leisurely ride to the Blue Duck Inn on Monday and relax in the surrounds of the alpine streams & the alpine national park. Enjoy a gourmet BBQ and local wines.

Cost - TBC

Transport -Transport from Anglers Rest to Dinner Plain inlcuding bikes can be arranged. Alternatively family & friends are welcome to meet riders at the Blue Duck Inn.

Details of the Hotham Challenge Ride

The Mount Hotham ride is one of the most picturesque and challenging for any cyclist.

Ascent from Harrietville to Mount Hotham

The ascent is 30 kms, all uphill, on an ascent to rival those seen in the French Alps.

At Harrietville the climb starts in earnest, and can be divided into three, ten kilometer sections.

Section one consists of an average gradient of 6.6%, but is punctuated by a 400m long section of 9% known as The Meg at the 5 kilometer point. In between is for good tempo riding, and the smart cyclist will ride efficiently, saving all their reserves for section 3.

Section two is essentially a “false flat” of only 1.8%. Here the average rider can generate some good speed, touching 30kph in sections, particularly if there is a light tailwind.

Section three is where the challenge starts. The average gradient is ‘only’ 4.9% for the section, but is highlighted by some contrasting gradients. The initial ‘pinch’ is 7% for 750m, which is followed 2 kms later by CRB hill ( 10% for 1.1km), and later by Diamantina rise (9.7% for 850m). Between these are two wicked, short descents, where 75 kph is the norm, before the road heads skyward again.

Accommodation
Hotham Holidays has a large range of value accommodation options to make the long weekend hassel free. Call Hotham Holidays on 1800 hotham to book.

Ridewiser and Rob Crowe

Ridewiser will be facilitating much of the DP Festival of Cycling, headed by Olympian Rob Crowe, who will be on hand right through the weekend to offer encouragement and logistical support as well as give out heaps of tips as to how to effectively cycle in the mountains. He was a big factor in the events' first year and is looking forward to the workshop and ride planned for this year. 

For pre event training contact Ridewiser Coaching on (03) 9515 3770

About Rob Crowe

Being an average all-round sportsman through high school, it was only after becoming inspired by the television coverage of the 1988 Seoul Olympics and learning to ‘ride every day’ that Robert began a fascinating life journey through cycling.

Eventful career experiences ranged from winning dual 1991 Australian Road Championships to a World Masters Title in 2002; dizzy downers of bone-crushing crashes to an Order of Australia Medal; puncturing in an Olympic final in 1992 – and then surviving court battles to Paralympic Gold in 2004.

Since 1996 pro-cycling retirement, Robert has pursued a career vision in psychology for health and fitness, studying psychology and consulting in mental health. His model mentor role has evolved further as athlete-advisor for Sydney’s Olympic Games, Anti-Drug Campaign AOC speaker, Olympic sports commentator, and World Record tandem-pilot for Kieran Modra, Athens 2004. Currently, Rob directs the ever-popular Ridewiser cycling programs based in Melbourne, Australia, aiming to educate for cycling as a way of life and alleviation of community illness and obesity.

1989 Inaugural Winner Mt Buller ABOM Challenge (Amatuer)
1990 Defending Winner Mt Buller ABOM Challenge (Professional)
1991 Selection: Barcelona Olympic Road Squad
1991 Winner Amateur Tour of Austria
1991 Australian Road Race Champion
1991 Australian Road Time-trial Champion
1992 King of The Mountains Tour de Taiwan
1992 Barcelona Olympic Cycling Team Time Trial
1993 Winner Darling Harbor Criterium, Commonwealth Bank Classic
1993 2nd Place Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic
1993 Victorian Institute of Sport ‘Athlete of the Month’ (twice)
1993 Victorian Institute of Sport - Public Speaker & Athlete Mentor
1994 G.C.10th Herald-Sun Tour (2nd Sprint Jersey) Jayco Professional Cycling Team, Aust.
1995 Triple Winner Victorian Road Titles (‘91, ‘93, ‘95) Sportscover Pro Cycling Team, Aust.
1998 Bachelor Degree - App. Sci. Psychophysiology
1999 Aust. Inst. Of Sport (AIS) Athlete Career & Education Advisor for Olympic Games 2000
2000 Aust. Olympic Committee, Anti-Drugs in Sport Speaker & Presenter
2000 Sports Commentator, Sky News Channel, Sydney Olympic Games
2002 World Masters M1 Criterium Champion (Melbourne)
2003 Ridewiser Consultancy – Cycling Education Services (business commenced)
2004 World Record 4000m Tandem Pursuit (4mins 21.451)
2004 Athens Paralympic Games Gold Medallist (pilot)
2005 Order of Australia Medal (recognition of contribution to sport)

Alpine Ascent Challenge 2009
Riders that complete 4 of Victoria’s 7 alpine climbs this summer go into the draw to WIN a great prize. For further details and a list of participating resorts go to:

Alpine Ascent Challenge Website

The DP Festival of Cycling is proudly sponsored by: