Where else in the world would a race start be held up by a wild koala???  It's 7:45 am and 2500 riders are on the start of the AMY GILLETT FOUNDATION ride, a ride to remember and honour Amy; killed in 2005 while reconning the Thuringen prologue with her team mates when they were hit head on by a car.

The object of the ride is also to promote safety for cyclists.  The biggest and newest aspect of the ride this year was they were able to close the great ocean road for the day, something never done in Australia!  We got to ride up the ocean road; surfers and gorgeous beaches on our left, eucalyptus on our right and just gorgeous undulating roads.  Meanwhile at the start a koala is injured and more than likely stoned from eucalyptus and won't be caught!  They took ten minutes to get him and we we were finally off and riding!

40kms up the great ocean road - right turn into the mountains - a ten kms climb with a drop into a valley and more climbing to finish....a stellar ride and a stellar day.  What more could you ask for???  Next week I'll be launching the first ever http://www.ride4epilepsy.com.au in Melbourne; a 6 hour event to promote education and awareness on epilepsy in Australia.  More to come!!!!!

Cheers,
Marion