Saturday's events extend from Mitchelton to Lake Mountain

The Herald Sun Tour begins locally on Tuesday (Jan. 30) with the Women’s Stage 1 event at Healesville.

Saturday (Feb. 3) sees the Men’s Stage 3 race from Mitchelton Winery near Nagambie to Lake Mountain near Marysville.

The Men’s Stage 4 events on Sunday (Feb. 4) centre around Kinglake.

The 2018 course is extremely challenging covering a total of 732 kilometres with the race returning to Marysville for the first time in 10 years, for an epic ride up Lake Mountain and the final stage around Kinglake, which will see riders face an additional lap of the exciting 31km circuit to make for a brilliant stage.

With five ascents of the six-kilometre KOM, the overall winner won’t be certain until the final moments of the tour.

TUESDAY

Katrin Garfoot, Rachel Neylan (Movistar), Lauretta Hanson (Unitedhealthcare), Peta Mullens (Hagens Berman Supermint Pro Cycling Team) Tiffany Cromwell (Canyon/SRAM) and Brodie Chapman (CBR Women’s Cycling) will together compete in the first UCI sanctioned Women’s Herald Sun Tour, which begins with the Thule Stage One in Healesville on Tuesday.

The Jayco Herald Sun Tour is the oldest stage race in Australia, and in 2018 has been expanded with the edition of the women’s component.

SATURDAY

The scenery of Lake Mountain is set to play a pivotal role in this year’s Jayco Herald Sun Tour with the 20km climb to the 1,433m high summit expected to decide who remains in contention for the famous leader’s yellow jersey and who will fall agonisingly short.

The Mitchelton Winery Stage 3 of this iconic event is acknowledged as the longest and toughest stage the Tour has endured in recent years.

It begins on Saturday at the winery in Nagambie, but finishes with a monster ascent up Lake Mountain, riders needing all their energy and guile to negotiate what is considered the most challenging stage of the race.

They will be making their way through the Strathbogie shire and across the Highlands before heading to Eildon where the race will heat up with the hill climb up Skyline Rd. The potentially tour-deciding fireworks are set to happen on the final 20km climb to the hilltop finish on Lake Mountain.

The Murrindindi Shire Council Mayor Charlie Bisset said the community is proud to host two days of challenging cycling through the beautiful Murrindindi
Shire.

“We welcome spectators and cyclists alike, as the tour winds its way around 300km of the Shire, with great views of Lake Eildon and Lake Mountain before
culminating in the climatic finish at Kinglake,” Cr Bisset said.

“Murrindindi Shire Council and the community are excited to once again host the event village and finish line for the ride in Kinglake, with the exhilarating five lap circuit through the Kinglake Ranges.

“Kinglake is only one hour from Melbourne, so while people will be here mainly to watch the race travelling through beautiful national parks and State forests, we hope they also take the opportunity to check out the great camping and bushwalking opportunities and even bring their road or mountain bikes for a ride through the area.”

“The local community is gearing up for a huge weekend with our businesses, service clubs and sporting groups coming on board to support the event
activities. These will include market stalls featuring local wines and produce. This is an exciting opportunity for those of us in Kinglake Ranges and in
Murrindindi Shire more broadly. We are delighted to be hosting the Jayco Herald Sun Tour,” Cr Bisset said.

Saturday’s key viewing points are:
• Nagambie – Mitchelton Winery, Mitchellstown Rd
• Seymour – Emily St and High St
• Highlands – Highlands Rd
• Alexandra – Aitken St
• Eildon – Skyline Rd and High St
• Buxton – Buxton – Marysville Rd
• Marysville -Buxton – Marysville Rd
• Lake Mountain – Lake Mountain Rd

SUNDAY

Jayco Herald Sun Tour organisers say: “It all comes down to this, a five-lap finale amongst the superb scenery at Kinglake
and a course that many everyday riders know so well, will decide the winner of the
2018 Jayco Herald Sun Tour.

“This event is stepped in history over nearly seven decades and the Kinglake
region is now synonymous with the final acts of over 100 elite riders as they vie for
individual and team honours.”

Race Director John Trevorrow says “The Kinglake climb is one of
Melbourne’s most popular cycling challenges. 5 laps of this challenging circuit will
give fans a wonderful opportunity to get up close and personal with all the action”

Key spectator points will be – Kinglake Township and King of the Mountain – Kinglake – Glenburn Rd (near Old Glenburn Rd)