| riders@desertchallenge.org | |
| Purnie Bore, Simpson Desert, South Australia, Australia | |
| http://www.desertchallenge.org | |
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It has been called Satans Velodrome and for many competitors it has certainly been hell. And yet they return, again and again, from throughout Australia and around the world, for those five days of the year when this unique location plays host to this extraordinary cycling event.
In late September 2013, competitors, support crew and officials will gather at Purni Bore, South Australia, on the western edge of the Simpson Desert for the 27th Annual Bike Challenge.
At 6am on a Tuesday morning on the 1st of October, the first of ten stages will commence. The riders will surge off into the heart of the Simpson Desert along the 'Rig Road'. This narrow clay capped track was originally constructed to facilitate oil exploration in the 60s, but it is fast deteriorating as time, weather and 4WD traffic takes its toll.
The first 4 days have an 80km morning stage followed by a 50km afternoon stage. The final day will comprise of two shortened stages ending outside a classic Aussie pub - the Birdsville Hotel in the tiny outback town of Birdsville in Queensland.
The total distance of around 570 km takes in some 700 sand dunes, salt lakes, vast cattle stations, gibber plains and even a potential creek crossing. The course is weather dependent and subject to alteration.