The Sam Miranda tour is a spring classic that races through the region’s best tracks and scenery. Is this your year to get amongst the action?
Sam Miranda says his love of cycling comes from his obsession with food and wine. “The main reason I cycle is to make room to eat more!” he laughs.
Whether you ride to keep the scales in check or you’re on the serious side of things, the King Valley’s big cycling event could be just the challenge.
Dating back a decade, the ride started as a bit of fun. “When they first sealed the road from Mansfield-Whitfield Road, I knew (after a few wines with cycling friends) that it had to be raced,” Sam says.
“We first did the 100-kilometre race from Mansfield to our winery in Oxley in 2007 with almost 100 riders.”
It’s now a three-day event that starts and finishes at the Sam Miranda winery, and includes an iconic dirt climb to 750 metres above sea level. It takes in the Warburton Ranges, Glenrowan and, of course, the King Valley.
As of 2017, the event attracted 1,200 competitors, ranging from professionals (past racers include Patrick Bevan, Joe Cooper, Macey Stewart and Shannon Malseed) taking on the full challenge to weekend warriors participating in the 115-kilometre Gran Fondo.
The event became part of the Cycling Australia National Road Series in 2013.
The 2018 Sam Miranda Tour of the King Valley
Keen on joining this spring classic, perhaps to justify indulging in more of the King Valley’s food and wine? The Sam Miranda Tour is held August 31 to September 2, 2018. More details are at sammiranda.com.au.
Ride the valley any time
If you want to get into the King Valley cycling action, your best resource is ridehighcountry.com.au.
On the site you’ll find detailed maps of popular routes, discover when and where local bunches meet and—very importantly—pinpoint where the best coffee is.