Reflections on the Tour of Mansfield 2024

Mountains and bicycles.  What a combination and what better place to put them together than in Mansfield, just 2.5hrs from Melbourne.  This is my second trip to Mansfield for the Mansfield-Mt Buller Cycling Club's (MMBCC) Tour of Mansfield, a 3 stage event held over 2 days on the 16th and 17th March, 2024.  

Stage 1 an undulating 10km Time Trial on the outskirts of the town, suited to the power rider.

Stage 2 a 37km circuit with something for everyone.  Flat sections, a steep climb (Col Du Tolmielet 6.4km at 7.2%) and a fast flowing descent. The higher grades riding 2 and 3 laps.

Stage 3 the Queen stage of 45km from Mansfield to Mt Buller (15.3km at 6.2%).

This was going to be my 3rd 3 stage tour after Mansfield and Bright tours in 2022.  

Before I had even entered this event, I fired off an email to the Aus Cycling event co-ordinator and Jarrod Appleton, the President of the MMBCC to ask if they would consider adding a Men's Masters 6+ (55+) category, like the Tour of Bright.  The first reason for this is that Masters cycling is attracting very healthy numbers at the moment, with the Men's 50-59 age categories attracting some of the largest participation rates at the National Gran Fondo in Ballarat and Amy's Gran Fondo at Lorne.  Perhaps they could be drawn across to take on a bigger challenge.  

The second reason of asking for this, was that in the past I have seen 30+ newcomers enter Masters C grade and perform way over the average ability of the grade.    Now this could come down to the difficulty in handicapping those without much racing form or they are just sandbaggers out for an easy victory.  But the latter is a topic for another day.  Jarrod's reply was that they were planning to have a 6+ category. Unfortunately, Auscycling cannot provide enough commissaries to enable this. So last week we had to delete this category.

AusCycling's response as a compromise was to put an age restriction of 40+ on Men's Masters B & C. After analysing the results, this proved to be very effective.

The Men's Masters C chart which tracks the Time Behind the GC Winner, shows that the 2024 edition had the lowest time difference, when compared with the past 4 years.

The Men's Open C tracking the same data, had 13/14 finishing within about the same time range, with a single outlier.  Without the age restriction this field would most likely have been significantly smaller.

Taking a look at entry numbers over the past four years (2021-182: 2022-230: 2023-234: 2024-166), the numbers are down by 29% on last year.  Only Men's B had a bump in numbers, most likely due to the 40+ age restriction on Men's Masters B.  Every other field size was down on numbers compared to the last 4 years.  Free entry was offered to Women's C and still only attracted 6 entrants.

Running my eye over the list of entrants, there was only one local member from the Mansfield-Mt Buller Cycling Club participating in the event, and that was Talia Appleton, who won Women's A grade.  This is a great reflection of the club members who put the needs of the event ahead of their own ambitions to ride on their home roads.  

As Jarrod explained, MMBCC has the expectation that all members should volunteer to help run the Tour and not compete. We are such a small club we couldn't staff the event if a significant number of members were to ride the race. Some rare exceptions occur. And of course juniors are an exception. Neither Bruce Halket, the previous director, nor I have ever done the race. I encouraged Bruce to race this year because he has definitely earnt it. But he chose not too in case I needed his support since it was my first year in the top job.

The other issue is the financial viability of running the race.  There are a lot of hidden costs around the signage and permits.  Even though the whole town benefits from an influx of around 500 people, it's the club who takes the risk of underwriting the event.  As Jarrod explained, at MMBCC club we try to offer a good quality affordable race. And every year it is very stressful not knowing if we will come out of the event in the red or in the black. We have lost money twice in the 8 year history. As a small country club it is the only opportunity we have each year to make some money to keep the club afloat financially. Unlike the big metro clubs, we can't run weekly crits for hundreds of participants at $20 each.

Click here for the results

A few key moments and reflections from the weekend 

Saturday night at the Mansfield Hotel, enjoying a great dinner and socialising with friends and rivals.

The generator inflating the Finishing Arch at Mt Buller switching off and watching officials support it so that competitors could cross the line while the generator was restarted.  Crisis averted  

MMBCC & AusCycling running a first class event.

The massive random prize draw at the pub on Saturday night.

Hearing people say how much they enjoyed this event, because there were no big egos.

Drinking a Red Bull for the first time before a race and growing wings.

Being handed a Coke after finishing the mountain stage.  Thanks Mari!

Going solo, trying to make it stick and believing I could, until I couldn't.  Knowing that I had mates in the peloton who did their best to slow the bunch, chase down breaks and they weren't all wearing Brunswick kit. Thanks guys.

Having the feeling that I was one gel short on my carbohydrate requirements going up Mt Buller.

Realising that there are some people in my cycling circle that I don't recognise when they are not in their cycling kit.

Feeling a wonderful camaraderie amongst the Men's Masters C bunch.  It was good, safe and friendly racing.

The pint of Guiness on St Pat's Day at the Mansfield Hotel to celebrate a great event.

The enormous effort put into this event by the Mansfield community.  As Jarrod Appleton, said during his thankyous on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, this event relies on the enormous good will and support of club members, volunteers, sponsors, local government, police and local land owners. 

As competitive cyclists, we need to support these events by participating and volunteering, or risk them disappearing totally from our calendar.

Next 3 stage tour, bring a few more mates and family along for the ride and/or to volunteer.

Brunswick Masters C Boys after Stage 2
Fergus Fitswater: Michael Kanizay: Andrew Gannon