Jayco Herald Sun Tour images courtesy of Shane Goss (c) Shane Goss www.licoricegallery.com

Very different to all our other tours, this tour itinery is designed for the moderately fit road cyclist who would love to race the Sun Tour but family, work and the rest of life gets in the way!

Let your imagination take you out of the office for a week and become the next best thing to being a pro, ride every stage, full vehicle support, nightly massages. Accommodation in the same hotels as the teams, race management or close by. You will further fully embrace the race with priority grandstand seating for the final criterium in Melbourne, opportunity to ride in a team car, front table seating for the official tour dinner.

A signed leader’s jersey from the overall race winner will provide you with a momento of the week you rode like a pro.

TOPBIKE’S SUN TOUR, FULLY SUPPORTED, RIDE EVERY STAGE

Saturday October 10th
Pick up Spencer Street Melbourne at 10 am or Tullamarine airport at 11am. Drive to Ballarat where we will be staying for the next 2 nights. Tick the legs over for an easy ‘roll out’ accompanied by a former pro. Continue your conversations over dinner as we dine locally tonight.

Accomodation Ballarat next 2 nights
Ride: easy 20 – 30 km

Sunday October 11th: Pre Race criterium
Etape du Tour – Bush Fire relief fundraiser.

The Topbike riders will line up on the front of the grid for the Etape du Tour, which will be on the course of tomorrow’s stage 1, 150 km. After competing we will relax track side as the pros race a short evening criterium, a curtain raiser to the tour.

Ride: 150 km undulating
Accommodation Ballarat

Monday October 12th: Ballarat to Ballarat RR, approx 150k, a rolling parcours with a few tough sections

The Topbike crew shall take an easier day after extending ourselves yesterday.
We shall ride out to a good vantage point on the course and watch the pros tackle the same route we took yesterday. We will then hop in the vehicle and drive the 100km towards Colac, allowing us a relatively early start the next day

Ride 30 – 40 ks easy
Accommodation Colac

Tuesday October 13th: Colac to Warrnambool, approx 140k, gentle parcours

The Topbike Riders will hit the start line early allowing us to get the jump on the pros who will roll out about 11am. Expect the 140 k Colac to Warrnambool to be challenging but you will settle into your own pace with the support vehicle never far behind. In Warrnambool check into your hotel, then head out to watch the pros fight it out on the finish line. That evening take a massage prior to heading out for a well deserved dinner.

Accommodation Warrnambool

Wednesday October 14th: Warrnambool to Apollo Bay (stunning day on Ocean Rd) approx 163k, lumpy parcours

The really keen can take on the whole length of the 163 km ride from Warrnambool to Apollo Bay. Those who wish might prefer to cut out some of the distance and transfer to Port Campbell, reducing the ride to a more manageable 100km. Relax back in the hotel, have a massage before dinner then head out to dine at the Mecca for Foodies, nearby restaurant Chris’s. Be assured the pros will not be eating at such a refined food destination!

Accomodation tonight is in the seaside village of Apollo Bay OR Lorne

Thursday October 15th: Anglesea to Barwon Heads (via Lorne/Benwerrin with 15 k circuit at finish approx 135km)

Today the pros will transport along the 70 km along the world famous Great Ocean Road. The Topbike riders will have a variety of options available for them today:

1/ Transit the 70 km via Van to Anglesea and ride the course exactly as the pros
2/ Ride directly from out of the accommodation in Apollo Bay taking in the spectacular 35 km of Great Ocean Road to Lorne. Here joining the course for the remaining 105 km

Both ride options are the same distance
Ride around 135km (less 15km without the finishing circuit) 1 long climb (Benwerrin)

Accommodation Barwon Heads or Geelong

Friday October 16th: Geelong ITT short and sharp approx 11k

The Topbike riders will do their own ITT as we hit the course before the pros. We will watch the pros and take a chance to hop in a team car. After the presentation, the Topbike van will take you onto Melbourne, where we will get ready to take our front row seats at the evening’s official dinner.

Ride: ITT circuit 11km plus warm up and cool down
Official tour Dinner
Accommodation - Melbourne

Saturday October 17th: Melbourne circuit race finish.

The Topbike riders will have tired legs after a week of riding, today they will freshen up as you join the 10,000 or so other cyclist who ride Beach Road every weekend. The road is flat with very few traffic lights and is now embedded as the mecca for cycling for all Melbournian roadies. We will do an out and back to Frankston and return to one of the worlds best ‘café lattes’ back at any number of small café’s that defines Melbourne weekend morning culture. Tonight we shall take a table at the Cycling Sooty Park’s Topbike Cycling Trivia night (details soon).

Ride distance 100ks, Flat and easy.

Sunday October 18th
This morning we will reminisce about the week’s riding then metamorphose back into our own lives, leaving our alter ego road racer as a past memory.

The Topbike Van can arrange airport drop off at Tullamarine or centrally to Spencer street Station.

TOPBIKE'S JAYCO HERALD SUN TOUR

• 8 nights accommodation twin share. In team hotel’s where possible or close by.
• ALL breakfasts and dinners
• A welcome lunch
• Tickets to official tour dinner and Trivia night
• Entry to the Ballarat Etape du Tour Bushfire relief ride (front or grid start)
• Full back up vehicle and mechanical support on every ride
• Airport transfers in the Topbike Van
• A six piece Topbike cycle clothing Kit: 2 bib and brace nicks, 2 short sleeve jerseys, 1 long sleeve jersey,
• 1 winter thermal top
• Energy bars and carbohydrate drink powder
• Experienced cycling guides with local knowledge
• Detailed maps of all ride routes
• Evening massage
• Ride in a race car
• Ride and dinner with a pro
• Winner’s jersey signed by the overall tour leader
• Grandstand premier seating for the final stage in Melbourne
• Tips, coaching if requested
• Visit to tour village
• Non cyclists also catered for
• All particular dietary requests are catered for, just let us know
  

Cost is per person in AUD based on twin share. If you are single you will be paired to room with a person of the same sex.

* Ride distances are approximate and Topbike can cater for all ride abilities. If you want to do more or less than scheduled, an alternate ride will be possible.

8 nights 9 days
$3990