Crop Duster

Formally known as the Crawfords, the Crop Duster is a unique and majestic circuit that starts and finishes at the former Galloway Station hut on the Central Otago Rail Trail.

The route begins with a gentle 12-kilometer climb up the Raggedy Range, offering stunning panoramic views of Alexandra and Clyde. At the summit, the Moa Creek plateau presents itself — a flat basin surrounded by rugged hills that have weathered harsh summers and winters where only thyme and rabbits thrive. After a swift descent into the plateau, sitting at 450-metres above sea level, you'll circumnavigate the basin. On reaching the former Moa Creek Hotel, built in 1861, the short course goes left, while the long course continues for an additional 12 kilometres around the basin. Both courses then rejoin Poolburn-Moa Creek Road, ascending the Raggeddy’s once more before a thrilling descent back to the finish line.

The Crop Duster is the perfect event to ease you into the Gravel in Paradise series, leaving you eager for more.

There are two distances on offer, with three competitive classes in each distance and separate age groups for both males and females. A new points system will be introduced this year. Points will be rewarded by finishing order, i.e. one point for first, 2 points for second etc, with final series placings determined by the lowest combined score from your best three events.

• Long Course (Sams Bar Championship Class): 57km
• Short Course (Rush Velo Competitive Class): 45km
• Farmstrong Ride Strong Class
• Calect Electrical E-Bike Class
• Grades for all ages, Male and Female
• Podium medals and heaps of spot prizes

A current race licence that is affiliated with Cycling New Zealand is a requirement. If you do not hold a licence, you can apply at https://www.cyclingnewzealand.nz/clubs-and-membership/becoming-a-member-2/. We can arrange a licence for the series at a cost of $22.50. We will email you separately to arrange this.

Sign-on will be at the Galloway Station Hut on Galloway Road from 9am until 10.15am, riders briefing that all must attend at 10.30am. The E-Bike class will start at 11am and everyone else shortly after that. Medals for podium finishes in both grades, all classes and all age groups. Prizegiving will be held at the Sam’s Bar, with spot prizes kindly sponsored by Willbike.

Full category and age group information is available on the entry form.