MORE than 200 cyclists will arrive in Jindabyne over the weekend for the Ultimate Snowy Challenge. Excellent interest from the cycling fraternity has drawn cyclists from as far away as the Sunshine Coast and Melbourne.
Many of Australia's top riders are attending to conquer the mountains. Five of the top 20 places at last weekend's Oceania championships in Canberra have entered. This will benchmark the event for the wider cycling community.
Many locals are still putting in the training kilometres for the event and are looking forward to riding and gaining tips from the attending cycling elite.
The weekend starts at Kalkite where riders will be testing their speed and strength up the Kalkite Hill. The hill climb starts at 9am and should be finished by 11am.
Terrific support has been shown by local Kalkite residents even to the point where one local lady offered her house as a staging point for the event. Saturday afternoon will see a criterium event for the sprinters which will be fast and furious.
The main event on Sunday starts at 7am from the Barry way roundabout and heads into the mountains. Locals should be aware that cyclists will be on the road most of the day and travelling times to Thredbo or Perisher may have to be adjusted. The roads will not be blocked but riders of different abilities will be spread over a long distance.
Registration for the Sunday event will be held at the major sponsor's venue The Station Resort on Saturday afternoon from 4pm to 6pm. All riders, visitors and friends are welcome to mix at The Station for dinner from 6pm.
Major sponsors The Station Resort, Perisher, Pushy's Bicycle Warehouse, Sportful Custom Clothing and secondary sponsors Shotz nutrition, Las helmets, Sacred Ride, Touchdown Cottages, Jindabyne Caravan Park and great support from National Parks and Snowy River Shire Council.