Around the Bay takes place on Sun, Oct 18, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. The main route is 220 km.
- Date
- Sun, Oct 18, 2026
- Start
- Melbourne 🇦🇺
- Distance
- 220 km
- Level
- Open to all
Australia's biggest one-day riding festival offering multiple distance options tracing Port Phillip Bay in Melbourne.
Official event pageWhat this race demands
Around the Bay demands sustained pacing and endurance over a 220 km distance tracing the shores of Port Phillip Bay in Melbourne. Riders must manage fatigue over an extended duration in an October spring climate.
Aerobic endurance
Covering 220 km requires a deep aerobic base and the physiological efficiency to sustain a steady output for many hours in the saddle.
Durability and pacing
The substantial distance requires disciplined energy management from the start to prevent late-race fatigue and fading.
Nutritional consistency
An extended time on the bike requires uninterrupted fuelling and hydration to maintain performance levels across the entire route.
Averaging 60 to 90 grams of carbohydrates per hour is recommended to sustain energy output across the long duration of a 220 km ride.
What would it take you?
Pick the level closest to yours for an estimate of finish time on this course and the training a solid preparation needs.
Estimated finish
6:50–8:15
Peak-week training
6–8 h/week
A model estimate from distance, climbing and level, not a promise. Conditions, drafting and pacing move it.
IntervalCoach turns those weekly hours into a concrete plan built around your actual fitness. Start with this race as your goal
Your road to race day
Race day at Around the Bay is 8 weeks away. This is how a coach divides that time. The first phase starts now.
01Build2 weeks · Aug 24, 2026 – Sep 6, 2026
Progressive overload: training load climbs in waves, with harder weeks stacked on the base and planned recovery weeks that let the gains land.
02Peak3 weeks · Sep 7, 2026 – Sep 27, 2026
The hardest weeks of the plan: race-specific intensity at nearly full training load, sharpening exactly what this race asks for.
03Taper2 weeks · Sep 28, 2026 – Oct 11, 2026
Volume drops while intensity stays: short, sharp efforts keep the legs awake as fatigue drains away.
04Race week1 week · Oct 12, 2026 – Oct 18, 2026
Openers, rest and logistics. The work is done; the job now is arriving fresh.
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