Without doubt, the Tour of Margaret River (ToMR) is the best event on the WA cycling calendar for amateur racers. As you can see from club members’ experiences last year (blog posts here, here, here & here) , it is the highlight of the year. The event has it all… several days of great racing, stunning locations, rubbing shoulders with cycling royalty and fantastic club camaraderie. I remember flogging myself in a break away, being cheered on by the SPR support and having a helicopter hover close by for a very long time.

This year, SPR will once again take the ToMR by storm. At this stage, we have been kindly allocated 4 male teams and 2 women’s team, each of 6 riders. We want you to fill those teams!

The tour starts with a team time trial on Thursday 6th November. The results from this determine which category your team will ride in. Following that there is a race each day through the Margaret river region. Day 2 finishes with a nasty climb to the Augusta Golf Club, Day 3 has 2 short stages and the final race on Sunday is a fast and furious Kermese in Cowaramup with sprint points and time bonuses. While there is something for every racer, 4 days of consecutive racing is very hard and shouldn’t be considered lightly. More information can be found on the TOMR website or facebook page. The entry fee is $300 per rider plus accommodation.

Places on the SPR teams are hotly contested. You must be a SPR member and be able to commit to the whole 4 days (Thursday-Sunday). The race committee also expects/demands that people selected for TOMR will race lead up races including the Pickering Brook series race 3, Dardanup Tour, Pinjarra Classic, West Coast Masters races and Peel Districts Races. Consider the commitment that is involved.

The “all powerful” Race Committee will select riders based on the following:

• Participation in SPR weekly rides
• Participation in races, especially if wearing SPR kit
• Participation as a Saturday Ride Leader
• General participation within the club

Teams will be made up of a variety of abilities so it will not be a matter of four teams of fast group riders will get entry.  In principle, the 4 men’s teams will comprise of fast, main 1, main 1 and main 2 riders.  If we know that you are a fast group rider and the team is full, then you do not get to knock a main 2 rider out just so you can race.  The women’s teams will be made up of a fast/main 1 team and a main 2 team.

If you want to participate, please email race@southperthrouleurs.com.au to register your interest. The only person who is guaranteed a spot is el Prez. Please include which SPR Saturday group you ride with and your Strava profile name if you use it. Teams will be decided in late July/August to give people plenty of time to train.