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Sam Miranda Road Race-Strade Nero

7/7/2012

 
It seems most people I talk to,myself included, are interested in the condition of the "Strade Nero"(the dirt road climb) that will be used in the upcoming Sam Miranda Road Race.I wrote a blog about the race last week and decided that today I would go and investigate this infamous piece of road for myself.
After watching my recording of Stage 6 of the Tour de France the frost had started to melt, although I couldn't get any water out of the taps in my house due to the pipes being frozen,I headed off on my journey.The plan was,drive to Mohyu, jump on the bike and ride up Boggy Creek Road,which the Sam Miranda Handicap Race would come down the day after the road race.
That meant I could kill two birds with the one stone as I'm keen to race the handicap on the Sunday myself and this way I could see a section of the course I didn't know.It was a gentle uphill gradient most of the way to Myrrhee so coming back down will be pretty quick in a bunch.Nice quiet country road,I think I saw 2 vehicles in around 16km,perfect. 

I would then be able to turn into the Benalla-Whitfield Road at Myrrhee.Within approximately 1km I would be on the dirt section.The gradient at the beginning of the climb is very gentle (big ring country) with the steepest gradients being in the middle of the climb(between 5-10% on my Garmin) and then levelling off a little for the last km or so. The following photographs are taken in series moving up the climb from the beginning to where the dirt finishes at the Junction of the Mansfield-Whitfield Road.I've endeavoured to photograph the road surface in a few locations and in various conditions.I will say there was no trouble riding hard up the climb and most of the time you could choose a fairly smooth path amongst the few potholes and stones.There were some corrugations and rougher sections but it's mostly a hard packed pretty good surface.The conditions were sunny and the road surface dry,I imagine it could get slippery if it happens to rain.The reward after the climb is a fantastic flowing descent down into Whitflied on an excellent road.
And,yes,there is even a Strava segment for the "Dirt Berg" which I've included at the bottom of the post.

Don't forget you can keep up to date with the latest news about the race from the official Sam Miranda Road Race Blog
Picture
Nearly there
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The transition from sealed road to dirt.
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Bridge over BoggyCreek
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The middle of the climb is through forest.
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Close up of some of the rougher stuff.
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Potholes can mostly be easily avoided.
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You can mostly find a smooth path to follow.
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Towards the top of the climb it opens out a little.
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The end of the dirt with the Mansfiled-Whitfield Road Junction ahead
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The reward is a fantastic descent down in Whitfield.

The Sam Miranda Weekend

4/7/2012

 
Pencil the weekend of the 25th and 26th of August into your diary.Thats when the Sam Miranda Road Race,Gran Fondo and Handicap will be held. What promises to be a fantastic weekend in beautiful North East Victoria with plenty to keep non cyclists entertained as well.The area is full of excellent wineries,wonderful restaurants and is also just a stones throw away from most of Victoria's Ski fields.Sam Miranda owns one of the areas best known wineries. The Sam Miranda cellar door is open 7 days from 10am - 5pm with lunch available 12pm - 3pm.    

A special thank you to Marty Tobin for providing most of the information and photographs.
I was quite interested Sam Miranda's interest in cycling and Marty provided me with the following.  

Sam has been a cycling tragic for quite a while, long before he moved to North East Victoria from Griffith.
He still has his classic custom made 1990’s Zanella Road bike that he got made when on a trip to Italy, sitting in the shed.  
Sam’s involvement with cycling in the north east came after a chance meeting with some local club members at the winery in about 2005.He then started  donating a few bottles of wine to the Wang CC for the Club tour, then it grew. The next year Sam was the Sponsor of the Wangaratta Cycling Club tour.In 2007 Sam became the major sponsor of the Wangaratta CC. 
Also in 2007 Sam became the major sponsor of the High Country Road Race (Mansfiled to Oxley) a joint club run event with Mansfield CC, in 2008 the race became bigger with a criterium added to make it a weekend.
2010 saw Sam Miranda King Valley take over management of the event. 
Picture
Sam Miranda on the Col du Galibier,one of the classic "Tour de France" climbs in the Alps.
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Some of the racing from last years criterium
There have been some big changes made to the format of the event from previous years with some very exciting additions.A Road Race and Gran Fondo will be held on Saturday with a Handicap Road Race held on Sunday.

"The ROAD RACE has been changed from the point to point circuit to one big loop(See map below). We feel the circuit is just as challenging as the old course. We have kept the distance to 100km, like previous editions, and have incorporated some fantastic roads not previously used."

"This year we have two KOM’s. The first as riders come into Myrrhee (km 50) and the second is the infamous ‘Strade Nero’ which will take riders from Myrrhee up towards Whitlands (km 60) is sure to test and some have said “this will make the race”. Just like the Italian classic ‘Strade Bianche’ this climb is on dirt! The surface is in really good condition so you don’t need your Paris – Roubaix wheels!" 

There will be an intermediate Sprint and a teams category has been introduced for A Grade Men.
Minimum of 3, maximum of 5 riders per team.
Riders who are not part of a team, who wish to ride A Grade will be placed into a composite team by Cycling Victoria.
The Teams Classification winning team will be taken on the combined times of the first 3 riders in each team.

Champion Systems are on board again to provide Race Winners and KOM Jerseys for all grades.

Another first this year is the Sam Miranda ‘Grand Fondo’ over 100km to be ridden over the same circuit(see map below) before the Road Race.
The Grand Fondo is a participation ride and will start at 11:00am  one hour before the first riders set off in the 2012 Sam Miranda Road Race. 
In true ‘Grand Fondo’ style this ride has full event timing and is a mass participation ride preceding the Sam Miranda Road Race. The circuit is a mix of quiet country roads, unique climbs including the famed ‘Strade Nero’ to Whitlands, a great descent into Whitfield and rolling country side and vineyards.


SATURDAY 25th AUGUST
SAM MIRANDA ROAD RACE:
DISTANCE:     100KM
GRADES:        A, B, C MEN
                       A, B WOMEN
                      (A GRADE MEN – TEAMS CATEGORY)
START TIME: 11:00 AM ‘GRAND FONDO’
                     12:00 PM C GRADE
                     12:10 PM WOMEN B
                     12:20 PM WOMEN A
                     12:45 PM B GRADE
                     1:00 PM A GRADE
KOM:             2 PER GRADE
                     50KM MYRRHEE SCHOOL
                     60KM ‘STRADE NERO’
SPRINT:        15 MILE CREEK 35KM
PRIZEMONEY: MINIMUM $5,000 CASH & PRIZES
WINNERS / KOM JERSEYS ALL GRADES
ENTRY FEE:    $60.00 – INCLUDES DINNER SATURDAY NIGHT AFTER PRESENTATIONS.

                       EXTRA TICKETS FOR THE DINNER ARE AVAILABLE FOR $25.00



On Sunday the 26th the inaugural SAM MIRANDA HANDICAP will be held.

DISTANCE:           85KM
GRADES:             Open to all riders U19 and above
START TIME:        10:00AM
COURSE:               Oxley, Moyhu, Greta, 15 Mile Creek, Myrrhee, Moyhu, Oxley(See map below)
PRIZEMONEY:        PRIZEMONEY for the weekend exceeds $6,000 in cash and prizes
                                Prizes for 1st Unplaced U19, Woman, Fastest Time
ENTRY FEE:             $45.00

PRESENTATIONS:    AT CONCLUSION OF RACING 
                                AT SAM MIRANDA CELLAR DOOR

Should you require any further information a race website has been set up www.sammirandaroadrace.wordpress.com

Follow on Twitter - Sam Miranda RoadRace
 
Cycling Victoria’s race listing http://vic.cycling.org.au/?ID=46867



    Tony Reeckman

     

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