EVENT REVIEW – THE HELLFIRE CUP MTB STAGE RACE.

A 4 day 7 stage mountain bike race consisting of relays , TT, hill climb, and adventure stages, plus an optional night stage.

When:  November 19th –22nd 2015. Every two years. Next date 9 – 12 November 2017.

Format: Primary race format is pairs mountain bike racing with options for solo riders

Location: Kellevie in the Sorell Municipality in South East Tasmania. 25 minutes from Hobart Airport 50 minutes from Hobart CBD

Entrant capacity for 2015: 250 pairs rider positions (125 pairs) 50 4 day solo positions (Lone Wolf) and 50 2 day solo positions (Half Satan). This is less pairs than the first race in 2013 and early interest indicates that the pairs format will sell out.

Entry: $445 per rider

The event

The 2015 AvantiPlus Hellfire Cup was again based at Kellevie and rides into different areas of the Wielangta State Forest and surrounding areas each day, riding on private land and forestry land. The race course has a myriad of tracks, forest trails, and awesome descents in beautiful landscapes.  The event has 7 stages offering a good mix of seriously good single track and great adventure riding.

The organisers philosophy is that the course should be achievable, rewarding and challenging. They have designed it to be achievable and enjoyable for someone new to stage races with a reasonable level of fitness. The event is great leveller with plenty of opportunities for gravity riders and aggressive climbers to let the dog of the leash and has been designed to offer rewards and benefits for all riding styles.

The event is logistically uncomplicated with one base that competitors start and finish from each day to limit the pack/unpack headaches for riders, support crews and families. It also allows a greater social experience for riders and support crew with the one race village.

I teamed up with Al Killick from Christchurch and raced in the combined 100 plus years age group. (I loaned young Al a few of my years!)

We won our group and were leading all of the Mens pairs after the first day, eventually finishing second overall.

All round a good fun event and if you ever wanted to go to Tasmania and have a look around this is a great way to do so.

Stages;

Day 1

Race 1.   25km Mill Road Loop

Race 2.   13km individual time trial relay

Day 2

Race 3.   50km Loop

Day 3

Race 4.   15.5km joint time trial

Race 5

9km individual time trial

Optional 8km night race

Day 4  

Race 6.   3km hill climb

Race 7.   10km Team time trial dirt criterium

Services:

• Free camping
• Lunch included
• Entertainment
• On-site child care options (user pays)
• Food and coffee vendors
• After party concert
• Iron House bar
• Free wifi
• Appliance charge station
• Onsite mechanic
• Bike retail
• Professional traffic control for adventure racing stages
• Supporters packages
• Hot showers
• Bike wash
• Chill Zone

• Timing system links so riders can access their live results on their phones.
• Live results screen in the race village.
For more info visit

Derek Milne

Sponsored athlete Nelson.