By David Grimes.
So you’ve entered the 2017 Bowral Classic, but many may be unsure of what lies ahead. For those who rode the inaugural Bowral Maxi Classic, you may be pleased to know we’ve made a few course changes this year including an extra challenge or two.
Maxi Classic: 160km
At 160km, the Maxi Classic provides the ultimate challenge with the course offering riders a variety of rolling hills, short steep climbs, beautiful descents, long flat sections and to finish off, a leg-burning trip around Kangaloon. The Maxi Classic can be roughly divided into three sectors, each between 50km and 60km and offering riders a variety of terrain and riding conditions.
The stunning Southern Highlands – a dream cycling destination.
Bowral start to Mittagong (60km)
This segment allows riders the opportunity to warm their legs up in the early kms, before hitting a couple of short pinches, before turning off the Old Hume Hwy and heading onto the out and back section towards Wombeyan Caves.
After heading out of Bowral, the course undulates fairly gently until around the 12km mark where the first real climb kicks in, which lasts for about 2km – just enough to let you know you’re alive, but not long enough to kill you. Once you get over this climb riders take a big left turn and head out on the 30km loop towards Wombeyan caves, which gently undulates with nice long rolling sections. On this segment, riders can settle into their ride pace, enjoy the views of the rolling Southern Highlands countryside and try to find other riders of similar to work together.
After a nice 3km downhill section (and at about the 55km), riders turn back onto Old Hume Hwy to ride into Mittagong. Whilst the roads are fast (thanks to a nice long downhill), riders need to take some caution as they ride through Mittagong’s shops and into the town centre.
Riders can have a closer look at this segment on Strava or on Ride with GPS.
Mittagong to start of Kangaloon loop (50km)
Now that riders have warmed up, the second segment of the Maxi Classic offers long sections of mostly smooth rolling tarmac roads, with a couple of small climbs thrown into the mix. After heading through Mittagong riders turn off the main road and head towards Colo Vale and then enjoy probably the fastest section of the ride with a gradual downhill to the turnaround point in Yanderra.
Rolling hills, great climbs and dream descents … the roads of the Southern Highlands.
During this section, riders should be making sure that they keep their fluid and energy levels up by eating and drinking regularly – remember “Eat, drink, repeat”.
After turning at Yanderra, riders head back along the Old Hume Hwy with a gradual climb for about 12.5km to the turn off onto Old South Rd where they hit the 100km mark. Along Old South Rd riders should take time enjoying the rolling segments before riding past the airport they get their first taste of the hills that lies ahead of them in the Kangaloon loop section.
Riders can have a closer look at this segment on Strava or on Ride with GPS.
Kangaloon loop to the finish line (50km)
Now it’s time to get down to business! The last section of the Maxi Classic is set to test riders, even the fittest and experienced. And for those riders that did the inaugural Bowral Classic in 2016, you’ll be pleased to know that we have made this segment even more challenging.
After turning onto Range Rd, riders are faced with a nasty (albeit relatively short) pinch, which wore out the cleats of a few riders in 2016 – a combination of the 10% grade and weary legs. Having overcome the initial challenge, riders can shake out the legs and enjoy a section of undulating road along the Range Rd ridgeline, before descending down to the State Forest where you can enjoy protected and picturesque riding through to East Kangaloon – the base of Kangaloon Rd hill.
Good times and great cycling – riders enjoy a break during a Bowral Classic recon ride.
After turning onto Kangaloon Rd, riders can feel happy that they are now heading home to the finish line in Bowral. However, this euphoria may be short lived with the infamous Kangaloon Rd hill section – rising almost 200m over 6.5km. After cresting Kangaloon Rd hill(s), riders get some temporary relief for their legs before turning back onto Range Rd, retracing their route back to Old South Rd. This final section is no cake walk with a few short, sharp rises, before returning to the main road back to the finish.
After turning back onto Old South Rd, riders have a fast final 8km to the finish line, closing out the Maxi Classic with a Paris-Roubaix style finish with one lap of the Velodrome.
Riders can have a closer look at this segment on Strava or on Ride with GPS.
Challenge Classic: 120km
Participants relax in the post-event village after the sold out 2016 Bowral Classic.
The Challenge Classic riders follow basically the same course as the Maxi Classic, with the exception of being spared the circuit out to Kangaloon. During the course, riders will climb over 1,300m – it’s not named the Southern Highlands for nothing!
Instead of detouring up Range Rd, Challenge Classic riders enjoy the fast final 10km from Range Rd through to the finish line.
Notwithstanding the shorter course, riders in the Challenge Classic are reminded that hydration and re-fuelling along the whole of the ride is equally important as for the
Riders can have a closer look at Challenge Classic on Ride with GPS.
Massage tables in the Bowral Classic village after the 2016 event.
Social Classic: 45km
This is one way to earn your cake, wine and lunch! Riders are given tokens to redeem along the ride, enjoy a coffee and cake in café at a Berrima and savour some of the best of the Southern Highlands, with wine and cheese at two wineries along the way. Upon reaching the finish Line, Social Classic riders will be treated to a picnic box at Eridge Park.
Whilst the chance to taste some delights from the region, this is still no cake-walk as the Social Classic ride still offers riders plenty of climbs to work off what they have consumed!
Note there is a shortcut which reduces the ride to be 30km – if riders take this shortcut they will miss out on the two wineries.
Enjoy the day and enjoy the challenge of the 2017 Bowral Classic.
