Day 8 Albury to Khancoban 165km
Day 8 Albury to Khancoban 165km with 2130m of climbing
I’m learning that whatever the route is on the tour website, add 10% to the distance and 60% to the elevation. After 7 tough days and with some seriously weary riders, today’s leg is quite simply brutal. We lost our first rider of the tour last night Simon Williams from Perth who had to go to hospital with a potassium deficiency which emphasised how hard a lot of the stronger riders were going riding day after day at the front of the peloton.
The logistics for the day are harder because we’ve still got the early morning media commitments and 2 school visits plus the challenge of getting the weaker riders through the day, so we spilt into 3 pelotons. Peloton 1 set off early to pace themselves over a long 8 hours, with pelotons 2 and 3 supporting the TV coverage and each taking 1 school to present to.
The Optus team were in peloton 3 and we were able to participate in the presentation to Albury Primary. This was the 9th and final presentation of the tour and it was a true Australian melting pot of nationalities, with ages ranging from 5 up to 10. We are incredibly lucky to be accepted in by schools, to sit amongst the children, talk, joke, high five and just generally have fun. In an increasingly controlled and protective environment.
Over the past 7 days we have ridden through 3 Australian states. Starting in South Australia we rode right across Victoria and today we are in New South Wales. What a great way to see the country. So with school presentations done we set off around 9:45 and quickly got into the most scenic terrain of the trip. Mark Beretta was in our peloton which meant that when we reached the Hume Dam, a stunning section of road, we had a helicopter and cameraman for a good hour. Channel 7 has filmed throughout the tour and will package it all together in a one hour documentary for New Year’s Day.
It was shortly after the Hume Dam that we started climbing – and climbing. Through to lunch the scenery was breathtaking, the climbing tough and the descents spectacular. The speed varied between 10km going up to 70km going down. By lunch we had ridden 90kms and climbed 1500m. It was a very quiet and contemplative lunch because for all the stress of today it’s a stroll to the shops compared to tomorrow’s monster.
The kms after lunch progressed smoothly as we rode progressively into the Snowy River region until we stopped for a comfort break. An hour later we arrived in Khancoban, home of Jack Riley, more commonly known as the Man from Snowy River.
No question, today’s river was visually stunning. The Australian high country is simply beautiful.
Tomorrow’s ride will be the toughest thing I’ve physically ever done. 111kms long but the first 70kms include 3000 metres of climbing, including a 17km climb of 1700m. Weather is the unknown. We’re in the mountains, it’s freezing and if it rains or the wind gets up we are in a lot of trouble. The goal for tomorrow is simple, get as many of the group up and over the top of the mountain.
In front of the fire drinking red wine & eating warm bread & tzatziki 
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