Audax Alpine Classic

The Audax Alpine Classic (AAC) is an Australian bicycle event run every Australia Day weekend (late January) in Bright, Victoria and is organised by Audax Australia volunteers. Arguably the most difficult single day cycle event in Australia Citation
last=Hanslip
first=Michael
author-link=Michael Hanslip
title=Training for the Alpine Classic, episode three
newspaper=Bicycling Australia
issue=152
pages=128-131
year=2008
date=July 2008
url=http://www.bicyclingAustralia.com.au] with the 200km version covering four steep climbs. All distances start at Howitt Park in Bright and are on open roads.

Distances

* [http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/AlpineClassic200 200km.] The most popular distance that has the four ascents of Tawonga Gap, Falls Creek , Tawonga Gap and Mount Buffalo. The route is Bright, Germantown, Tawonga, Mount Beauty, Falls Creek, Mount Beauty, Bright, Porepunkah, Mount Beauty, Porepunkah, Bright.
* [http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Alpine-Classic-140k 140km.] Uses the same route as the 200km but does not ascend Falls Creek.
* [http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/130lm-Alpine-Audax 130km.] Uses the same route as the 200km but stops at Bright on the return
* 100km. The ride commences in Bright and out to Smoko and back to Bright ascending Mount Buffalo and returning to Bright. No longer run.
* [http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Alpine-Classic-72km 72km.] Bright over Tawonga Gap to Mt Beauty and return.
* [http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Alpine-Classic-70 70km.] Bright to Mount Buffalo and return.

AAC History

The first AAC was run on Australia day 1986 cite web |author=Annear, Peter |title=Alpine Classic - The Original Alpine Classic Story |publisher=Audax Australia |date=1986 |url=http://audax.org.au/public/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=52&Itemid=135 |accessdate=2008-06-09 ] over a 200km circuit with just six riders.

2003

The 2003 Eastern Victorian alpine bushfires prevented the ride proceeding. This was due to the uncertainty of if the the fire would flare up, the road surface and the residual smoke. A significant number of rider refunds were redirected to the Bright Country Fire Authority.

2006

The hot year where the temperature was around 42 degrees but with the reflected heat off the road surface played havoc with all riders. Only 31% finished the 200km and as a result the rules were changed to protect riders in extreme heat.

2007

In excess of 2000 riders battled the hills in relatively easy conditions.

2008

Another year with ideal riding conditions and over 2000 riders. Barcode readers were first introduced to improve processing of rider times. A post ride function called "Bonjour Bright" commenced.

Community interaction

The 2008 was calculated to have an approximate net benefit to host community of $814,176.44Citation
last1=Lamont
first1=Matthew
last2=Axelsen
first2=Megan
last3=Faulks
first3=Pam
Publisher1=Southern Cross University
Publisher2=University of Queensland
Publisher3=University of Canberra
author-link1=Matthew Lamont
author-link1=Dr Megan Axelsen
author-link1=Pam Faulks
title=Outcomes of the 2008 Audax Alpine Classic participant
pages=29
year=2008
date=June 2008
url=http://audax.org.au/public/images/stories/file/Alpine_Classic/alpine_classic_report_final_web.pdf] and is one of the largest annual events in the north-east of Victoria.

ee also

*Audax (cycling)
*Randonneur
*Brevet (cycling)
*Cyclosportive

External links

* [http://www.audax.org.au/public Audax Australia]

References