Riders Around the World to Experience the Best Sights of Down Under with FulGaz Hope Cycle Tour of Australia

August 18, 2022

- 100% of entry fees to go towards suicide prevention service, Lifeline Australia - Cyclists to take in highlights of Australia without leaving their home

MELBOURNE, AUS/TAMPA, Fla. (August 17, 2022) E/DURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – FulGaz^®, The IRONMAN Group’s cutting-edge indoor virtual cycling app, announced today that cyclists from around the world will have the chance to experience the highlights of riding down under without leaving their homes with the Hope Cycle Tour of Australia. The 15-stage event runs from August 20 through September 10.

The Hope Cycle Tour of Australia utilises the FulGaz indoor cycling app and allows riders to participate in the event from wherever they are in the world while raising funds for Lifeline Australia. The tour will have riders taking in some of the best sights in Australia, including Uluru, Tropical North Queensland, Sydney Harbour and Tasmania. Founded in Australia, FulGaz provides an experience that aims to be the closest thing to travelling and riding in real locations around the world.

Riders can take part in the 15-stage event either by themselves or in a team of up to four people, riding in relay to complete the challenge. Stages range from 15km to 45km in length and can be completed in any order, except for the 15^th and final stage, which will be celebrated with a Sunrise Group Ride both in FulGaz and via ZOOM with some special guests in attendance on Saturday, September 10, World Suicide Prevention Day.

Registration for the Hope Cycle Tour of Australia is open until Thursday, August 18 by visiting https://hopecycle.fulgaz.com/ and entry costs $39 AUD +GST, the same as what it costs Lifeline to answer a call.

One hundred percent of entry fees will be donated to Lifeline Australia, with the goal of raising more than $250,000 AUD this year. Riders can also fundraise themselves as part of the challenge.

“The Hope Cycle Tour will allow riders to take in some of the greatest routes in Australia without leaving their home through the FulGaz indoor cycling app, all while raising money for an incredible cause,” said Mike Clucas, Vice President of Digital Sports for The IRONMAN Group. “We’re honoured to be partnering with Lifeline Australia again this year and are aiming to raise more than $250,000 to assist them with their vital work.”

Lifeline is Australia’s largest suicide prevention service, with a vision of an Australia free of suicide. The Lifeline network spans the nation with 41 centres in metropolitan, rural and remote areas. There are over 10,000 volunteers and 1,000 employees working to ensure that no person in Australia has to face their darkest moments alone.

Lifeline aims to deliver digital services to Australian people in crisis, wherever they might be and in the mode in which they are most comfortable accessing support. Each year, Lifeline receives almost 1 million contacts from people in crisis.  Someone in Australia calls 13 11 14 every 30 seconds.

“The Hope Cycle Tour is in its second year and gaining momentum,” said James Duffy, Lifeline Australia National Manager, Marketing and Campaigns. “Some will ride, some will donate and others will tell their networks about the event. Every action will help ensure Lifeline’s critical crisis support and suicide prevention services are accessible to anyone who needs them, anytime, anywhere and in the way they feel most comfortable approaching us.”

Funds raised from the 2021 edition of the Hope Cycle Tour allowed Lifeline to answer 4,600 phone calls from people in need.

“I did the Hope Cycle last year, it challenged me both physically and mentally. I was inspired by and grateful for the generosity of those that donated and supported my efforts,” said Jackie Giles, Lifeline Australia Chief Financial Officer. “It opened conversations around mental health and wellbeing across my social and professional networks, with my family and with my local neighbourhood. All in all, positive benefits at many levels, therefore I am on the challenge again this year.”

For more information on the Hope Cycle Tour of Australia, visit: https://hopecycle.fulgaz.com/. More information on Lifeline Australia can be found at https://www.lifeline.org.au/.

For more details on FulGaz and its catalog of virtual cycling courses, visit https://fulgaz.com/.

For more information on The IRONMAN Group portfolio of brands and events, visit www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group. Media related inquiries may be directed to press@ironman.com.

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About FulGaz

Founded in 2014 by Mike Clucas in Melbourne, Australia, FulGaz aims to bring the most realistic riding experience to life via its app and its collection of over 1500 routes, including official IRONMAN^® courses. FulGaz is all about the joy of riding outside and aims to be the closest thing to travelling and riding in real locations around the world. When you use FulGaz^®, the experience is all about being immersed in the location in real life, with the app getting in the way as little as possible. All you need to do is get on your bike and enjoy the ride. For more details on FulGaz and its catalog of virtual cycling courses, visit www.fulgaz.com.

About The IRONMAN Group

The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN^® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN^® Virtual Racing™ (VR™) Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll^® Running Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running™ Series, IRONKIDS^®, World Triathlon Championship Series, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and City2Surf^®, UTMB^® World Series events including Tarawera Ultra and Ultra-Trail Australia™, Epic Series™ mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic^®, road cycling events including Haute Route^®, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass participation sports in the world and provides more than a million participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. Catering to the full athlete experience, the company portfolio also includes FulGaz, the most realistic indoor riding experience connected fitness application aimed at preparing athletes for real-world events. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN^® brand and its first event in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE^® by crossing finish lines around the world. Beginning as a single race, The IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with hundreds of events across 55+ countries. The IRONMAN Group is owned by Advance, a private, family-owned business. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group.

About Advance 

Advance is a private, family-held business that owns and invests in companies across media, entertainment, technology, communications, education and other promising growth sectors. Our mission is to build the value of our companies over the long-term by fostering growth and innovation. Advance’s portfolio includes Condé Nast, Advance Local, Stage Entertainment, The IRONMAN Group, American City Business Journals, Leaders Group, Turnitin, 1010data and Pop. Together these operating companies employ more than 17,000 people in 29 countries. Advance is also among the largest shareholders in Charter Communications, Warner Bros. Discovery and Reddit. For more information visit www.advance.com.