The Xstrata Great Hunter Cycling Classic® - is a mass participation cycling event catering for all levels of cycling enthusiast from the serious to touring and recreational riders. Set in the picturesque wine country, this Exclusive Hunter Valley event offers riders the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of individual and team challenges circumnavigating central Pokolbin.
Given the vast spectrum of cycling experience expected at the event, riders can choose a fun, team, short or long course ride, with the flexibility of the course encouraging both non-competitive participation/ leisure pursuits and elite competition options - You Choose
A challenging but friendly 19km Fun Ride caters for those who may have a "little rust" on their body or bike, to a 60km short course ride for the more energetic/competitive, right up to the 100km Long Course for the elite cyclists looking for distance and Cycling NSW Road Series Points.
There are two options for team riders. Teams will comprise 3 riders with one rider elected as Captain. Two Cups are on offer to compete for with the "Corporate Cup" held over 100km and the "Hospitality Cup" held over the 60kms.
*Corporate Cup entrants must be employees of the company they represent and "Hospitality Cup" team entrants must be active employees of the hospitality industry.
The chosen circuit will comprise four of Pokolbin's most central roads with Broke Road, McDonalds Road, Deaseys Road and Hermitage Roads providing the challenge. The roads pass some of The Hunters finest properties and vineyards including HVG, Bimbadgen Estate, The Vintage, Gabriels Paddocks, Marsh Estate, Keith Tulloch, Casuarina Estate, Oakvale, Tyrells and Peppers Creek to name a few.
With nicknames already issued you will have the chance to come up with your own version. Riders will have the chance to:
No trip to the Hunter is complete without visiting The Hunter Valley Gardens who are hosting The Xstrata Great Hunter Cycling Classic. The start and finish line at The Hunter Valley Gardens will ensure a wonderful spectacle for participants and onlookers alike after a challenging rattle along the Broke Road straight.
This unique event has a vision to grow into the future and become a tradition for both the local community and visitors alike. The Hunter Valley provides the ideal location and is perfected structured to cater for a large scale event of this nature as it grows into the future. And, like many of the Hunters Wines which get better with age so to will The Xstrata Great Hunter Cycling Classic.
The latest addition to The Xstrata Great Hunter Cycling Events, The Great Hunter Grand Prix is a criterium event which will be staged at The Tempus Two Vineyard on Broke Road, Pokolbin. In this its first year, only Men’s Division 1 and Division 2 events will be held with prizemoney and prizes in excess of $4,500 on offer plus Cycling NSW Road Series points for the Div 1 competitors.
This Criterium circuit will prove to be both exciting for spectators , fast with some technical aspects to it for the riders. Family, friends and spectators are encouraged to come along, bring a picnic and indulge in some of the Hunters best wines whilst enjoying some exciting Criterium racing.
Riders, please note that fields are limited to just 50 riders in each division as graded by the NSW Handicapper. So get your entries in early and stay over to compete in the Sunday’s second edition of the Xstrata Great Hunter Cycling Classic which will be open to the general public as well. Road series points will be on offer for this event as well.
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Thank you to all involved in this years Great Hunter Cycling Classic for 2011, especially our Major Sponsor Xstrata Coal.
We trust that all involved enjoyed the experience, and congratulations to all our winners.
Please view the results below.
The ALL Spokes Cycling Festival incorporating the Xstrata Great Hunter Cycling Grand Prix Criterium and CycloSportif Challenge was run and won over the weekend on NSW’s Hunter Valley region under beautiful autumn weather conditions.
Saturday afternoon’s Criterium events were run on a 2.6km hot dog circuit using the entrance road to Mt Broke Winery. The circuit was great with two tight turns at either end making it a tough affair and ensuring only the fittest survived. The uphill finish was designed to make life a little easier for the judges however the very first event was nothing but as Chrstine Twomey of the Parramatta CC edged out the ever consistent India Faehndrich by a mere 12 x 1,000th for victory with Belinda Diprose LACC finishing out the top 3 placing’s.
The Div 2 men rolled away next over their 30 minute event. Some good hard racing followed with another tussle to the line with Paul Archer from Sutherland Shire taking a well-earned victory over Kooragang Nathan Ruks and Central Coast’s Chris Murphy.
Division one was on from the start with riders like Kolbach, Apolony, Taylor, Wong, Curran, HAAS, Blick and Papworth doing all they could to unsettle the favourite JL Rathbone. With light fading and coming into the final turn Rathbone found himself at the back of the small but elite field of riders, straightening up and a little under 500meters to go with Crafty letting all of the Hunter know that JL stood no chance from there the amazing happened, One by one he clawed back putting everything he had into the big gear he was pushing past Taylor, alongside Curran and then over HAAS by the narrowest of margins to claim victory in this inaugural Grand Prix event .
Three fantastic Criterium events and great support from the locals who want to make this event bigger and better and hopefully will take out the tight turns for next year making this a truly wonderful Crit course for future years. Thanks to our hosts at Mt Broke Winery Mike & Chris for their hospitality and to Foxy and his mates at the finish line.
If Saturdays Crits weren’t enough the quench the thirst of our top riders, over 400 participants fronted up for Sundays Morning Xstrata Great Hunter Cyclosportif Challenge event outside the Pokolbin Hunter Gardens Estate under the most magnificent conditions.
29 riders got under way in the 19klm Family fun challenge. And what fun it was with one family taking a blanket and picnic lunch stopping half way to cheer on the hundreds of riders participating in the 60 and 100klm events.
As the two major events got underway, Matt Farley, Promoter of these great events had a real surprise in store for the spectators who gathered at the start. Bang on 8.00am he arranged for an acrobatic airplane to go through its paces and manoeuvers putting on a spectacular display for all to see. It was thrilling, loud and spectacular and matched the first years black helicopter that crept over the trees and hovered above the riders as they got underway in their events.
This years event saw record entries and through the efforts of Tyrrell’s wines every entrant over 18 years received a complimentary bottle of Tyrrell’s best wine just for entering. With over $15,000 in cash and prizes on offer for this event it was not surprising to see some of NSW’s biggest hitters out to grab the cash.
The 100klm event was covered in the very quick time of 2.20.04. Two riders made the race escaping from lap one and spending all but the last half lap out front. The big hitters reeled them in and with a 40 up bunch gallop it was anyone’s race. The crowds were screaming in support of their riders, there was noting in it as JL Rathbone edged out evergreen Eddie Salas and Newcastle’s young gun Dane Crawford across the line. What a finish, what excitement to end the third running of this great spectacle which runs through the beautiful Hunter Valley wine region and has a sprinkling of Paris Roubeaux along the way.
Indian Faehndrich got revenge for her second placing on Saturday over Yoni Cross and Marissa Madden. India finishing just over a minute down on the men which is a very creditable performance and demonstrates the ability of this young lady. 114 riders completed the 100klm course with Cameron Chapple closing the event in a time of 4.21.13.
37 ladies completed the 60klm course with a great ride from Dubbo CC Emma Apolony saw her take a great victory over Mikhele Rundle (Kooragang) and Hayley Follett (Hunter District CC).
Paul Archer Sutherland Shire CC made it a double for the weekend winning a close tussel from 14 year old Jack Edwards Lidcombe Auburn CC who dead heated with Stewart (Computer) Campbell of Bicisport with Bathurst Cc Harrison Jones just getting pipped and coming home in 4th place. Pauls’s winning time for the 60km was a very quick 1.27.48 and these two victories may very well attract the attention of the NSW handicapper!
NSW Road Series points were on offer for this weekends events. Cycling NSW will have the points table updated shortly revealing who is leading each division’s series.
Congratulations Matt Farley, Promoter of the Xstrata Great Hunter Cycling Challenge and Grand Prix event. A truly magnificent weekend of events in NSW’s premier wine district, the Hunter Valley.
Kevin Young
Cycling NSW
The All Spokes Festival will lend a helping hand to men’s health this May by donating a pecentage of entry fees received to the charity beyondblue.
In an effort to increase awareness of the work beyondblue is doing in the prevention of depression in men, the All Spokes Festival is the perfect reminder of the value exercise, fun and fresh air has when it comes to promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Cyclists old and young will meet again in the beautiful wine country to ride amongst the vines and support men’s health and beyondblue.
Xstrata Coal has entered into a sponsorship relationship with the All Spokes Festival. Effective immediately All Spokes Festival will be known as the Xstrata Coal All Spokes Festival with Xstrata Coal being the principal sponsor of the event as it heads into its third successful year.
The All Spokes Festival showcases the beautiful surroundings of the Hunter Valley wine country and its community each autumn. This event encourages involvement and participation for novice and elite cyclists alike by enabling safe cycling through the heart of wine country, Pokolbin.
With its “Great Hunter” series of cycling events co-hosted with Cycling NSW The All Spokes Festival has fast become a must do event for cyclists both local and interstate.
The All Spokes Festival also supportsBeyond Blue by contributing part proceeds from the event to promote the fantastic work being done in supporting men’s health and depression.
“Xstrata Coal plays an important role in the local community and we are pleased to support the All Spokes Festival and its valuable contribution to raising the awareness of the important work of Beyond Blue throughout the region.”
