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Newcrest Orange Challenge 2018 Piggery Hill
Red-hot Orange offers a great day out

30-plus degree temperatures may have caused the road to melt, but it didn't stop more than 1,200 riders enjoying the Newcrest Orange Challenge yesterday.

Riders tackling the 170km and 70km rides got an early start in Orange at 7:00am, while the 100km riders set off at 10:00am from Canowindra where a temperature of 35 degrees was forecast.

The ride is 'Australia's Classic', modelled on one-day European rides like the Tour of Flanders, but with a local flavour you could only experience down under. 

The dry and sunburnt country was filled with sheep and cattle who took a rare time out from grazing to inspect the riders going by.

Rough roads were punctuated with a patchwork of potholes, however any punctured riders were helped by Bicycle Network's on-road support crew.

Despite some bike computers giving peak temperature readings of 40 degrees, riders were able to get through the ride and soak up the celebrations at the finish line at Orange Velodrome and occupy all the shade on offer.

The help of the on-road support crew, volunteers and the local community made the event, all helping to create a brilliant atmosphere. There were also a handful of riders who went the extra mile and helped unload bike trucks, which everyone was thankful for.

It was an excellent day and another great ride in Orange and Central West NSW. Bicycle Network would like to thank everyone that made the event possible including Newcrest, Destination NSW, Orange City Council and the NSW Police Force.

On-route photos from the ride are now available to download here

Stay tuned to orangechallenge.com.au for news about next year's event.

 

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