Newcrest Orange Challenge 2023
Do you dream of the open road, riding through beautiful rolling country and breathing in the fresh country air? Of riding roads with little traffic and testing yourself against some very spicy climbs? Well, you can get this and a lot more from this year’s Newcrest Orange Challenge.
Let’s start with some important information.
Ride Date - 10 September 2023
Route Options
170km – 2,200m elevation – loop starting and finishing in at Roberston Park, Orange.
88km – 1,342m elevation – loop with short out and back section to reach loop section starting and finishing in at Robertson Park, Orange.
Entry Options
Early bird before 11pm midnight Sunday 9 July 2023 – 170km - $269 or 88km $149 and includes a free jersey.
From Monday 10 July 2023 – 170km - $299 or 88km $169
If you’re a Bicycle Network Member you’ll enjoy an extra 10% off.
88km – 1,342m of vert
A brilliant introduction to riding in the area, or for those that want to get out for a ride without demolishing themselves but still provides a real test. Think, climbs, false flats, rolling hills and spectacular views. A few words of warning… you’ll still need to be prepared for this one, it won’t be a walk in the park.
170km - 2,200m of vert
I think it goes without saying that this is moving into game face territory. 170km is a long way… and 2,200m of elevation offers the form of enjoyment that non-cyclists never seem to fully understand. The route is full of punchy climbs with a significant amount of up in the second half, so make sure you save your legs. The route will be largely traffic free so you can really take it all in. The average pace needed to make the cut off is 22km/h.
WHY RIDE THIS EVENT?
I’m increasing asked the question, ‘why should I pay to ride an event like this?’. There’s a few big reasons why you would for this one. The huge one for me is that there are road closures in place. This is a game changer on a fondo style event like this, and really changes things up and adds some serious enjoyment to the event.
In addition, you’ll be provided with nutrition and hydration support that’s critical in country areas, a BBQ lunch, professional photography, mechanical and medical support and of course the ability to ride with groups of like-minded individuals wanting to get a great ride done.
TRAINING
The team at Bicycle Network has put together some excellent training plans for both distances, plus there’s the current competition to win a pair of Bont Vaypor S shoes (these are epic and valued at $575), your ride entry cost, and a subscription to the ever-excellent Cyclist Magazine. All you’ll need to do is cover 4,000m of elevation in July, and in doing so provide yourself with an excellent base to get ready for either event.
TRAINING PLANS
My top tips for training for these rides are:
Build up distance slowly - there’s no need to push out to the actual ride distance in preparation. You’re longest ride should be in the 60k to 70k range for the 88km option and 140k to 150k for the 170km option.
Ride lots of hills – this is a lumpy course so make sure you ride as many hills as you can in training. No slacking and riding up and down Beach Road. Get to the hills. Short and Sharp hills are also great. Macedon, Dandenong’s, Eltham should be on your list of places to visit if you’re Melbourne based.
Dial in your nutrition – This is so often overlooked. May Make sure you’re working our out how much you need to eat and drink and how often. What your mate is eating might not be right for you. The biggest error people make is waiting too long to eat and drink so start with little and often food and drink from the first 5km.
Do what you do in training on the ride – Don’t change anything for the ride. No different pre-meal. No different gels (new untested gels can have serious negative bathroom consequences). Stick with what you’d been eating, find out what will be provided on the event day and get. U used to eating that.
Enjoy the process – Riding in winter is a challenge. Embrace getting out there and feeling the wind on your face, ride some new routes, go exploring and find some new groups to ride with. The training is 90% of an event like this one so make it enjoyable.
ORANGE
Orange is more than just a cycling destination, it’s a centre for amazing produce, wineries, and excellent restaurants.
If you’re partial to a wine there’s over 60 vineyards surrounding the area growing next level cool climate wines, think labels like Ross Hill, Swinging Bridge, Nashdale Lane and many more. There’s the option to go on a Country Food trails tour as part of your visit and sample the produce alongside these wines.
If you are travelling with family members that like a bit of a walk, there are plenty of trails and walks including the Orange Heritage Trail. It’s a self guided walk that takes around 90 mins and takes you past many of Orange’s most historic locations. There’s also Pinnacle Reserve Lookout that provides beautiful vistas and access to many other trails.
Add in multiple galleries and gardens and you’re pretty much set. There’s no excuse.
Getting there
Orange is around 8 hours drive from Melbourne and under 4 hours from Sydney or there is the option to fly into Orange Airport with Qantas or REX.
On the accommodation side, you’ll find multiple option from camping, glamping, budget and full Lux in Orange. Airbnb is my choice for finding accommodation.
Black out the weekend of 10 September 2023, plan a road trip, lock in some awesome country accommodation and start riding up hills in preparation for your mini-break… and maybe even sneak in the Mountain Bike for some of those trails.
Head on over to the event page at Bicycle Network’s website HERE for more info.
