Tour Format

The 2008 Tour of Southern Grampians consists of 4 grades, from A through to D-grade and Women. All riders competing in any of these grades must have a current 2008 ACF racing license. There are 4 stages held over 2 days, the 12th and 13th April. A 9km individual time trial and road stage will be held on Saturday in the morning and afternoon respectively. A road stage is run on Sunday morning and the Coleraine CBD Criterium on Sunday afternoon.

Getting to Coleraine
From Melbourne take the Western Highway to Ballarat and then follow the signs to Hamilton on the Glenelg Highway. Once in Hamilton continue to follow the signs to the Glenelg Highway until you reach Coleraine. Coleraine is situated on Bryan's Creek approximately 325km west of Melbourne and 30km west of Hamilton on the Glenelg Hwy. It is a small town with a population of only 1100.

Registration and Signing In
All riders will be required to register and pick up numbers and all other race documentation before the commencement of the Tour. Registration will be held in Whyte Street, the main street of Coleraine on Friday 8 April from 7.00pm to 10.00pm. The start of every stage of the Tour will commence in Turnbull Street adjacent the Coleraine Bowling Club. There is ample parking here also. In addition to registration, all riders MUST sign in at the start at least 15 minutes prior to the commencement of the stage. If any rider fails to do this they will be given an automatic 10 sec time penalty.
IMPORTANT : Riders can register on Saturday morning in McConochie Street before their time trial however, if you miss your start because of this that will be TOO BAD.  Grade start times can be found here

Stage 1  - Individual Time Trial
 All grades - 9.2km
Stage 1 will commence at 9.30am for D Grade and follow the race route as described.  When riding out to the time trial be sure to follow the route on the map described here.  Grade start times can be found here.  Please allow at least 30 minutes to ride out to time trial or 15 minutes by car.

Stage 2  - Great Doherty Sheet Metal Classic
 Women, C and D grades - 72.2km
Stage 2 will commence at 1.30pm and follow the race route as described. This stage may prove to be the most challenging and rewarding in the 5 year history of the tour.  The riders will head out of Coleraine towards Hamilton turning after 15km at Morris Rd.  Head along Morris Rd and Wildnerness Rd before heading over Douglas Rd and then Zig Zag Rd in succession.  The riders then head back to town via Coleraine Rd and Den Hills Rd finishing in McConochie St.  There will be 5 minute gaps between grades.
 A and B grades - 97.0km
Although only 97km this may break many riders in the peleton.  The riders will head out of Coleraine along the Cavendish Coleraine Rd before heading over Douglas Rd and Zig Zag Rd in sucession.  The riders then head back to town via Coleraine Rd and Den Hills Rd before repeating this loop for the second time before finishing in McConochie St.

Stage 3  - Tahara Morgiana Loop
All Grades - 66km
Stage 3 will commence at 8.30am and follow the race route as described.  There will be 5 minute gaps between grades.

Stage 4 - Coleraine CBD Criterium
 Women and D grade - 10 laps, C grade - 15 laps, B grade - 20 laps, A grade - 25 laps
Stage 4 will commence at 12.30pm and consist of a criterium starting and finishing in Whyte Street, Coleraine.  The course is approximately 1.84km in length and travels along Whyte St, Henty St, Church St, Read St, Pilleau St and Young St.

Presentations
 Presentations will be held at the completion of the criterium.