July 2014

Volunteering for a four day tour can be a particularly challenging experience but hopefully somewhat less demanding for our Vollies this year with the appointment of Melissa Mumme from the Collie Cycle Club as our Volunteer Welfare Co-ordinator. Melissa will be responsible for health, safety, communication, knowledge and scheduling of people and resources during the Tour. Please join us in welcoming Melissa to our team and in expressing our sincerest gratitude to the CCC for their continued and integral support of the tour.

It has taken a few years, but finally Margaret River has it’s very own team to cheer for in November. Team Arimia has assembled the best riders from Margaret River into one well organised team. This team has a powerful line up of riders capable of winning stages, but will likely focus on supporting the GC ambitions of star recruit Luke-James Sleegers. Internal sources tell us than we can also expect an Arimia Women’s team on the road in the near future.

It has generally been regarded as one of the most picturesque roads in WA and with the recent sealing of Mowen Road it is now only 40 minutes drive from Margaret River. At a distance of 85km and with constant undulations, Nannup to Balingup return has to come under serious consideration as we begin to map stages for an expanded tour in 2015. A stage for the climbers? Not necessarily, but then we wouldn’t be expecting the entire peloton to arrive back in Nannup together either.

All across Western Australia in the early hours of the morning teams are out racking up the kilometres in preparation for ToMR. When the tour kicks off in November almost every region of the state will be represented on the start line. We welcome back teams from Albany (pictured), Kalgoorlie, Denmark, Manjimup and Esperance and we welcome new teams from Karratha, Joondalup, Champion Lakes and from Broome. Regional team lists are filled with ex champions, potential new champions and overly large personalities, all of whom will help contribute to a great tour. Photo: Tony Lendrum