Brendon Morrison

We think that Tim Bardsley-Smith is one our the best cycling photographers in the country and we are very excited about having him coming across the county to be a part of this year’s tour. Tim will join Tony Lendrum to make the foundation of what we think will be a sensational team to capture images the tour. If you are like us and can’t wait to see the photos of this year’s race,  check out some of Tim’s work at The Tour Down Under to get you bye.  TBS Photography

There is so much history associated with Vasse Felix Estate make sure you get the chance to visit in ordinary time. Stage 2 this year will start under neutral conditions at the Tour Village and then roll out through the Estate, last year this was the Queen Stage of the tour, however this year we think that overall Stage 3 is the more challenging.

Hardly a weekend goes by when Debra Carver is not out on some remote corner holding a stop/go sign for some kind of event. Deb is a rare breed of volunteer who is always ready to give up her time, but more importantly takes the time every three years to renew her Traffic Management Qualifications. Volunteers with TMQ’s are getting harder to find and thus people with the qualification always get left with the same old job, often a long way away from the glamour and action of the finish line. For this reason we are naming Deb as our Volunteer of the year and sending her along to The Legends Night at Arimia.

Thanks to Qatar Airlines and Punto Tours, one lucky rider from ToMR will be flying to the Giro d’Italia in 2015!  Check out the new luxury aircraft being operated by Qatar Airlines and check out the Giro Tour at the Punto Tours website.  Secretly let’s all hope that one of the five Italians in the tour does not win!

Please welcome Steve DeAngelis to our team as our Vehciles Co-ordinator, with over 40 vehicles in the convoy it’s going to be quite a task to get everybody in the right place at the right time, but we are sure that Steve is up to the job. Another thank you to the Collie Cycle Club for loaning us another one of their key personnel.

After a sensational start to 2014 Julia Kalotas (pictured third from left) unfortunately suffered a fall in the Tour of Thailand and fractured her clavicle resulting in surgery and a long lay off from the sport. Now six months later Julia is looking forward to getting back into the race scene, starting with a defence of the Tour of Margaret River title that she won in 2014.  Having had a solid build up and preparation towards the coming criterium season Julia should be right on form when the tour kicks off in less than two weeks time. This year Julia will be supported by the newly formed Riders Choice Women’s Cycling Team and with the imparted wisdom of coach Gary Suckling and the support of a dedicated team, we see Julia as a realistic proposition to win consecutive Pink jerseys.

2014 will see Arbitrage Racing lining up for the first time in the Tour of Margaret River. After a strong NRS Season so far including several stage wins and consistent placing in Top 10 General Classifications, both the Men’s and Women’s teams are looking forward to a great 5 stage Tour in the South West this November. One of the Women’s Teams strongest riders Rebecca Mackey has this year gone from strength to strength. A silver medal at the Australian Road cycling championships Criterium set Rebecca on her way to a stellar 2014. Outright winner of the Goldfields Cyclassic in Kalgoorlie and Women’s winner of the recent Hell of the North race at Lancelin have shown Rebecca’s win at The international Tour of Bintan in 2013 was certainly no fluke. Taking home the Pink Jersey from ToMR would certainly cap a great year for Rebecca. Photo: Steve lloyd

The Shire of Augusta Margaret River recently granted ToMR Iconic Event status.  As a result of this new status the tour now sits alongside other major events like the Leeuwin Concert, Cape to Cape and The Gourmet Escape as showcase events for the Margaret River Region.  The agreement will result in more funding and support for the tour, but perhaps more importantly it is recognition of the contribution that Cyclo Tourism is now making to the region’s economy.

Most analysts would predict the NRS registered teams to dominate group one of the tour, however a few “guest riders” in non NRS teams will certainly have the potential to shake up the contest for the Green Jersey. Take the rider in this picture, Luke Durbridge of Orica GreenEdge for example who will guest ride for the Total Travel WA Team. This team made the elite category in 2013 and it’s hard to see them getting any slower in 2014 with a National Road and Individual Time Trial Champion in the mix. .