Unfortunately the 2012 Terra Australis which was due to run in early February has been postponed. The event will be moved to the back half of 2012. Please keep checking the website or subscribe to our regular newsletters for updates.

Photo: Scott Hartvigsen Photography

The dates for 2012 installment of Terra Australis, Australia's toughest stage race, have been set for Sunday 5th February to Saturday 11th February. The dates are a lot earlier than the normal autumn dates. The organisers of Terra Australis have been working with the land managers from Parks Victoria, Department of Sustainability and HVP Plantations to find a date that is suitable for all parties. The Victorian State Government has set an aggressive control burning schedule which has been severely compromised by the recent wet summer. As a result the 2012 autumn has been identified as the next available opportunity to catch up on the control burn schedule.

It is not possible for the organisers to plan around these burns as they will be done based on weather and wind conditions on any given day. The directors of Finish Line Events are all residents of North East Victoria and have lived through three major bushfires and as a result fully support the control burning program. The directors are also cyclists and understand the health and safety risks of riding in smokey conditions and are keen to keep away from these proposed burns.

The directors of Finish Line Events also gave full consideration to the events calendar and February and March 2012 is shaping up as a smorgasbord of mountain bike events. Lock in 5th-11th February 2012 and make your way to the start line for Terra Australis next year.

 Things you want us to KEEP doing for 2012

 These were the most common responses

1.Time trial format, but a bit longer

Some of the your comments

•Stunning routes, not too easy, not too hard

• •Overnight Stops/Accommodation: having the race stop at major resorts/towns ensures heaps of quality accommodation, this is  a major benefit relative to overseas stage races.
• •Mt Ebenezer
• •ALL the singletrack
• •Russ Baker, he is invalueable! (could not agree more)
• •The awesome trails for T3
• •The even spread of towns where generally you stay two or three days is great as you don't have to pack up all the time
• •Singletrack sections although would be good to have some earlier if possible as you do not appreciate them as much when you encounter them at the end of a six or seven hour ride
• •All the tough tracks & trails - even some wet weather!
• •The comfortable accommodation & lovely locations
• •All the happy & patient volunteers & great mechanics
• •Full support package
• •7 days of hard riding in the pairs format

Photo: Scott Hartvigsen Photography

Things you want us to START doing for 2012

 These were the most common responses

1.More concise stage briefing each night

Some of your comments

 

Photo: Scott Hartvigsen Photography

Things you want us to STOP doing for 2012

These were the most common responses

1. Stage 3 saw tooth section
2. Hike a bike – use only if necessary
3. Wait times for transport
4. Late rider briefings
5. Inaccurate distances for stage briefings
6. Singletrack at the END of stages for the sake of having singletrack

Some of your comments (what would you like us to STOP doing next year?)

 

Photo: Scott Hartvigsen Photography

The rain, the mud and the cold made the 'Queen' stage, the circumnavigation of Mount Buffalo the favourite stage for the competitors this year. Two of Australia's elite riders were a little more clear headed than the rest of the field with one observing that they had just climb Mount Buffalo twice. The response, "this is a day we will talk about when we play remember when. Remember when we circumnavigated Mount Buffalo, climbed the bloody thing twice in the driving rain through mud that stuck to your tyres like nothing else and lived to tell the tale".

What was your favourite stage?

1. Stage 5: Bright to Bright (Circumnavigation of Mount Buffalo) 29%
2. Stage 2: Falls Creek to Dinner Plain 24%
3. Stage 7: Beechworth to Beechworth 24%

Note: There were no votes for stage 3. Surprised?

Brad Davies was in a contemplative mood at the end of stage 5. His mud splatered jersey and face tells the story of the day.

If any photo captures the true character of Mark Fenner, then this is it. Also taken at the end of stage 5.

The competitor surveys from the 2011 Terra Australis have thrown up some interesting results. Not surprisingly the brutal third stage was rated the least favourite by the competitors. It was a particularly hard day with a searching saw tooth section early on followed by a brutal climb before the final descent into Bright.

What was your least favourite day?

1. Stage 3: Dinner Plain to Bright 41%
2. Stage 6: Bright to Beechworth 18%
3. Stage 2: Falls Creek to Dinner Plain 11%

Like a diamond, stage 3 was tough it was also beautiful as the following photo shows.

We have been receiving a few requests for dates for the 2012 Terra Australis. We are currently working with the land managers whose land we travel through to set dates suitable for everyone. We are hoping to have the dates set by 20th May 2011. It is great to see so many people are keen and eager for Terra in 2012.

The maddest bloke on a mountain bike, Mark Fenner from FTP Training has pulled together a great training program for those looking at competing in the T3 this year. Mark developed this program for his wife who is competing in T3 in March. Not long to go, the training needs to work from here on in.

“It is not the mountain that we conquer, but ourselves” Sir Edmund Hillary.

 "The Terra Australis in 2010 has been the highlight of my mountain biking life. The opportunity to ride in some of Australia’s most amazing terrain with amazing people will stay with me forever. The only thing more amazing than the scenery, the other racers and the support crew was the feeling of holding my mates hand in the air as we crossed the finish line in Wangaratta. That’s a highlight for life".
Graham Menzies - Terra Australis finisher 2010

“Overall the Terra was a fantastic week of racing, it challenged, it thrilled, it amazed us all with the scenery and stunning vistas from the mountain tops. The organisation was first class and special mention should go out to the Finish Line Team…... I can definitely recommend the Terra Australis to those who want a real challenge, a life changing experience amongst likeminded people. It is a race for some it is a personal journey for others, it will whatever your motivation be in your soul forever.”        
Mark Fenner – Total Rush/Specialized Team – 2nd place, Terra Australis 2009.

“In a word,.....WOW!!!
Without a doubt one of the best events I've experienced, with all the right ingredients,
Extremely challenging terrain with stunning scenery, really well organized (hats off to Iain, Clayton & the whole Finish Line events crew), Great people with lots of laughs & friendships forged & perfect weather all thrown in with the fresh mountain air”.
Troy Bailey  -  BMC Racing  -  3rd place  - Terra Australis 2009

“Going into the event I wasn’t sure what to expect…….But by the end of the week the realisation that we were going to achieve some thing great was overwhelming”
Peter Hepworth  -  Topgear/Avanti  -  7th place  -  Terra Australis 2009

“As well as Mountainbiking, there was one thing that united us all and that was the belief that happiness and a sense of achievement comes from doing tough stuff. If you shy away from a challenge like this, you will never feel as good as I do right now and that’s a fact”.
Matt Hart  -  TORQ International  -  4th place  -  Terra Australis 2009

Terra Australis is an epic seven-day Mountain Bike journey. An unforgettable adventure that will take you from the heights of Victoria’s Alpine Resorts, through historic high country villages and Australia’s premier gourmet food and wine region. Jaw dropping scenery, Nirvana single track and an amazing natural environment are all part of the experience.

Every competitor will be rewarded with a personal victory over the course, over the elements and over your mind, body and soul. If you are looking for the ultimate Mountain Bike endurance challenge then you need to be on the start line of Terra Australis on March 21st 2010.