Terra Australis Start List Update
Having just completed Leg 2 of the Terra Australis ‘virtual’ ride yesterday in Longreach it’s timely to update on where we’re at with the ‘real’ riders out there planning to tackle the epic 6,250k journey or at least one of the five Legs.
As we are now seeing Australia has dodged a bullet with the Covid19 and our constraints at home are generally being eased. All going well over the next couple of months I'll start taking firm registrations from July 1. By then I’m expecting that the Qld State Border will have re-opened. The current blatherings about ’September’ will result in a mutiny from the Queensland Tourism sector if the Premier and the Qld Chief Medical Officer continue with their current stand off…. assuming there is no serious wide outbreak of infection. Hopefully the ‘bubble’ with NZ will be in place to allow the possibility of our bikepacking neighbours to join as well.
So as it stands;
FULL TERRA AUSTRALIS COURSE 6,250k
David Waugh [Armidale] and Walter Brumniach [Sunshine Coast], both pre-race withdrawls last year are paid up and declared starters. I've received confirmation from Walter this week that he’s planning on being at the start. David confirmed some months back. Dane Roberts [Canberra] has confirmed by email he will be tackling the full route. Dane has strong bikepacking race experience, Tour Aotearoa, Hunt 100 and was running top ten in the 2018 Tour Divide before suffering a race ending injury. I’m in regular email contact with another four riders who are planning on the full course, most recently Anthony Duff [Bundook] has declared his intent to tackle the full course. Anthony has a wealth of experience with multiple Simpson Desert Challenge finishes and the 2018 Monaro Cloudride 1000. A further three riders have lodged EOI’s and been sent the full route .gpx files and Notes but no ongoing contact.
MAREEBA - LONGREACH Brendan Corbin our 2018 TA finisher is already Registered and thinking he might just keep on riding. Chris ‘Paddy’ Irish has declared himself for this leg after original interest in the Byron- Canberra leg.
LONGREACH - BYRON BAY
Simon Faber [Bris] an original entry for the full course in 2018 [a pre-race scratch] has intents for this leg and recently indicated he’s considering starting from Mareeba and doing two legs.
BYRON BAY-CANBERRA
Joanne Payne [Dungog] is already Registered and might also ride on to Wilsons Prom. A further FOUR riders have lodged an EOI for Leg 4 and planning accordingly. One of these riders is also a possibility to ride through to Wilsons Prom.
CANBERRA-WILSONS PROM
THREE riders have lodged an EOI for Leg 5.