Australian endurance sport event specialist SME360 has announced the acquisition of the Audax Alpine Classic cycling event, which takes place next year on 27 January 2018. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The Alpine Classic has been run since 1986, when half a dozen keen audax cyclists decided to ride from Bright to Falls Creek, in Victoria, Australia, and back. After a little refreshment they felt the need for more, and set off to ride the additional 70km up Mount Buffalo and back. This 200km route became the Audax Alpine Classic.
As the ride became more popular, routes of different distances were gradually introduced to allow more cyclists to complete their own Alpine Challenge, and share their achievement with like-minded athletes. The Alpine Classic now caters to around 2,000 riders, with over 8 courses ranging from moderate to seriously challenging. As this is not a race, and is a self-supported audax ride that must be completed within a certain time limit, there are no road closures.
The Alpine Classic will celebrate its 32nd year in 2018. Commenting on the acquisition, SME360 founder & CEO Martin Jolly said “We are delighted to have added this historic event, considered the most difficult single cycle event in Australia, to our growing list of major events. The route commences in Bright and travels through some of the most breath-taking countryside including Mount Hotham, Dinner Plain, Falls Creek and Mount Beauty.
“We will continue to work with Audax Australia & the relevant high-country tourism bodies to ensure the continued success and growth of the event.”
Dan Shannon, Audax Australia’s Ride Director for the event, said “While we’re sad to let this event go, we are excited to pass the torch over to SME360 and their management team who are committed to continue the culture and long term future of the Alpine Classic.”
Next year’s event will see over 2,000 riders converge on the Victorian Alps for a weekend full of cycling, food and entertainment. When riders cross the line, a sense of celebration of personal achievement with family and friends is strongly encouraged. As the Alpine Classic is not a race, the event is strongly focused around endurance and self-reliance, therefore ‘to complete is to win’.
In addition to the varying ride distances on offer, a free food and music festival is available for all those early-finishers around the start/finish line in Howitt Park.
With over 8 distances on offer, the original distance, the Alpine Classic includes 200km of challenging hills and scenery, with a notable 3,600m of climbing. 2018 will see the third year of the changed course, which reportedly received a positive response upon introduction at the 2016 event.
Also accompanying the event weekend, the Bonjour Bright Festival has been French themed to celebrate the association of the Audax Alpine Classic with Audax International, based in France.
www.alpineclassic.com.au
www.sme360.com.au
