Mutual Community Challenge
Long Weekend

TRIP DETAILS:
Duration: 4 days (3 nights)
Dates: Thursday 20 – Sunday 23 January 2011
Start-Finish: Adelaide
Accommodation: Majestic Rooftop Garden
TRIP COST: $1450.00 Australian Dollars
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $380.00
EXTRA NIGHT’S ACCOMMODATION:
SINGLE ROOM: $260.00
DOUBLE ROOM: $280.00
TWIN SHARE (DEPENDING ON AVAILABILITY): $140.00
Book Now
Optional Extras

Tour inclusions:

• 3 nights (Thurs-Sat) at the 4.5 star Majestic Roof Garden hotel
• Welcome dinner including local wines and beers.
• Restaurant lunch at Willunga
• Breakfast each day
• Viewing of the Santos Tour Down Under
• Transport and guides each day including transfer back to hotel from Mutual Challenge
• Transfer to start area of Mutual Challenge ride for shorter distances
• Expert advice and mechanical assistance
• Detailed Itinerary including maps
• Complimentary cycling jersey and cap
• Trip Pack: Info on how to prepare for your trip and what to take
• Airport transfers on first and last day of trip

Thursday 20 January. Arrival in Adelaide

Welcome to the Santos 2010 Tour Down Under. Your Bikestyle package starts with us meeting you at Adelaide airport and transferring you to the Majestic Roof Garden hotel where we spend the next 3 nights.  Located in the heart of the lively Rundle Street cafe precint the Majestic Roof Garden is a comfortable and stylish base for you to enjoy the best of Adelaide. Once you’ve settled in you can unpack your bike and take a light spin to get the travel fatigue out of your legs.

Today’s TDU stage finish is in the Adelaide Hills town of Stirling, 20km from the city centre. If you arrive in time it would be possible for you to head out on your own (and up!) to Stirling to catch the stage finish this afternoon, but our plan is for an easy day to rest up for tomorrow’s big event. This afternoon we will do a relaxed ride down along the popular route along the Adelaide beaches doing about 40-50km, stopping for a coffee. Tonight there will be a welcome function at 7.00pm, where you will get the chance to meet the Bikestyle team and your companions for the next few days.

Today’s ride: We suggest an easy day today in preparation for tomorrow’s big day, so you will see our ride options for today reflect that.

Meals: Dinner

Friday 21 January TDU Stage 4: Norwood to Strathalbyn (Mutual Community Challenge)

Start and Finish: Norwood to Strathalbyn
Start Time: 11am (The Parade, Norwood)
Skoda King of the Mountain: Checker Hill Road, Kersbrook
Jayco Sprint Locations: Main Street, Gumeracha and Onkaparinga Valley Road, near Balhannah
Feed Station: Macclesfield
Finish Time: 2.28pm ETA
Race Distance: 124km

It’s our day to ride the same route as the professionals this morning in the Mutual Community Challenge Tour with a choice of  ride distances to take us to the finish in Strathalbyn just before the race arrives around 2.30 this afternoon. Once we arrive at the finish we’ll join the thousands of other tired riders and witness some of the world’s top bike racers cross the finish line, possibly even more tired than us!

Our Ride options today are:

The Mutual Community Challenge Tour is part of the Skoda Breakaway Series, which forms the official recreational ride program of the Tour Down Under. It’s a challenge – not a race but with the ultimate satisfaction from riding under the official finish arch. This ride is for regular riders who can make the distance – will you make it to the finish before the professionals arrive? The 135km ride departs at 6.30 am from Norwood, an easy 3 km ride from our hotel. For riders doing the shorter distances we will transport you to the start area for your chosen distance this morning.

The ride options and prices for the 2011 Mutual Community Challenge Tour are as follows:

Norwood – Strathalbyn, 135km: $145 (Early Bird $130) Book Now

Gumeracha – Strathalbyn, 91km: $145 (Early Bird $130) Book Now

Balhannah – Strathalbyn, 62km: $120 (Early Bird $110) Book Now

Macclesfield – Strathalbyn, 35km: $100 (Early Bird $80) Book Now

*135km includes Santos Tour Down Under stage distance of 124km plus 11km race neutral
distance.

Non Cyclists:

Today we will be heading down to Strathalbyn to collect our weary riders after their early morning start and long ride! On our way we’ll take a stop, possibly at Hahndorf as the race won’t be visiting this pretty town in the Adelaide Hills this year. Many of you will have partners doing the event today andd you will be keen to see how they went so we’ll travel to the finish in the bus. But if not you probably haven’t had a chance to see much of Adelaide yet so you may wish to take a day out and see this elegant city.

Meals: Breakfast, (lunch is included in your ride entry package).

Saturday 22 January. TDU Stage 5: McLaren Vale to Willunga

Start and Finish: McLaren Vale to Willunga
Start Time: 11am McLaren Vale
Skoda King of the Mountain: Willunga Hill
Jayco Sprint Locations: The Esplanade, Aldinga Beach (Snapper Point)
Feed Station: Main Road Willunga at Kell Street
Finish Time: 2.19pm ETA
Race Distance: 131km

Today’s TDU stage heads back to the Fleurieu Peninsula. This region boasts that it “has it all”, so we should be in for a contrasting days racing and riding. We’ll probably take things a bit easier today, after yesterdays ride, and save our energy for tonight’s party. Today you’ll be provided with a picnic lunch  on the course near Willunga Township where the race passes our restaurant on each lap of the course including the hill!

Our Ride options today are:
We will ride directly to see the start at McLaren Vale today followed by the short ride to Willunga for the day at our restaurant located right on the race route where we will base ourselves for the race. We will have a sit down lunch with drinks provided until 2.00pm. We are ideally placed on the course for the race to see the riders pass each time. You can ride the 3.5km to the KOM on the final lap if you wish and then be back in time to see the finish.

• Our 60km ride today will start from the hotel and head up through the hills along the bike path that follows the Southern Expressway to the vineyards of McLaren Vale making a ride of approx 50km. We will then move onto Willunga to see the remaining laps. Today is normally a decider in the overall for the Tour Down Under and today should be no exception.
• There will also be the option to ride the course up to the KOM at Old Willunga Hill.
• After the race we will return to the hotel by van or bike (50kms).

Non Cyclists:
This morning we will head down to McLaren Vale and finally Willunga. While at the start you could do a spot of wine tasting at McLaren Vale before settling in for lunch at our restaurant where we can see the race pass on each lap right from our front door!

Today We Visit:

Where the Vines Meet the Sea
The McLaren Vale Wine Region is located just to the South of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, on the beautiful and geographically diverse Fleurieu Peninsula. The township of McLaren Vale, which gives its name to the region, is only 37 km from the centre of Adelaide and can be reached in approximately 45 minutes by car. It is rare to find a premium winemaking area so close to a major urban area. This proximity to the State capital makes the region an attractive destination for visitors.

Mostly known for its ripe, generously flavoured wines the region produces:
• Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and Merlot.
• Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling.
• There is also experimentation with Viognier, Marsanne and Sangiovese.
There are over 60 cellar doors in McLaren Vale. With the restaurants and cafés in the region, they pride themselves on their expert combination two local passions of wine and food.

Willunga is a charming historic town mostly famous because in 1837 the first colonial exploratory expedition in the state terminated where the town of Willunga now stands. Slate was discovered here in 1840 and use of slate is evident in roofs, water tanks, floors, footpaths, bridges and even fence posts. At the turn of the century Willunga saw the introduction of almonds and now vineyards and olives are making their mark.

Tonight is the Legends’ Night Dinner. The Santos Tour Down Under rolls out the red carpet and gives cycling fans the chance to glam up, head out to celebrate and see cycling champions honoured.

Legends’ NIght Dinner (optional)
In 2010 the special guest will be once again cycling legend Lance Amstrong. Popular cycling commentators Phil Ligget and Paul Sherwin will interview Lance along with other cycling legends on what promises to be a memorable evening. The Legends Dinner is a unique chance for you to mingle with the stars of cycling as well as enjoy a great nights out.

Venue: Adelaide Convention Centre
Time: from 7.30pm

If you are going to the Legends Dinner this evening we will transfer you to the venue at 6.30pm from outside the hotel. Taxis will be available for you to return when you wish.

Meals: Breakfast and Restaurant Lunch

Sunday 23 January Stage 6 Santos Tour Down Under, Adelaide City Circuit

Start and Finish: Adelaide City Council Street Circuit
Start Time: 1.30pm* (King William Road, Elder Park)
Skoda King of the Mountain: Montefiore Hill
Jayco Sprint Locations: King William Road
Finish Time: 3.15pm approximately
Race Distance: 90km

This is the last official day of our trip and we are available to transfer you from our hotel to Adelaide airport today. For those of you departing later today there is the chance to see the final stage of the 2011 Santos Tour Down Under as it makes 20 laps of a street circuit through the Adelaide parklands, an easy walk from our hotel.

Today’s stage is usually full of action, as it is the last chance for race glory and where all of the classifications will be decided. There are plenty of opportunities to see the racing as the riders hurtle around laps of the street circuit, taking in the view of Adelaide’s city skyline. You can see all of the action on the Big Screen and there are areas to enjoy local food, wine and entertainment. After the race are the presentations where you’ll have a chance to take a last few photos of the winners to show all your friends and club mates when you get home.

Our Ride options today are:
Our plan for this morning is to do a ride along the beaches of Adelaide, before returning to the hotel for breakfast. The rest of the morning is free until we go to see the final stage at 12.30pm.

However we may be persuaded to take a later ride after breakfast for those who had a late night out at  the Legends Dinner last night!

Non Cyclists:
The East End Markets are on this morning so you may like to wander down for a look or maybe a lazy sleep in if you were dancing the night away at the Legends Dinner. Adelaide’s newest attractions, the Pandas at the Adelaide Zoo are also a shorte walk from our hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

NOTE: Please place number of persons attending in box below

• By paying a deposit you are deemed to have accepted our Waiver and Reservation Conditions. If you have any further enquiries please email us at tours@bikestyletours.com.
• * We charge for our trips in Australian Dollars (AUD) and prices shown in other currencies are only approximate. We advise that you check the exchange rate before booking.
• Deposits can also be paid by direct deposit or cheque. For more information contact our Office Manager Michelle Knibbs for our bank details and mailing address, michelle@bikestyletours.com.

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