Peaks Challenge Falls Creek
Steep and relentless is an understatement
Peaks Challenge Falls Creek is a 235km ride from Falls Creek, via Tawonga Gap, Mount Hotham and Omeo to the Back of Falls.
The route
You’ll tackle the ascents of Tawonga Gap, Mount Hotham and finally, the beast that is the Back of Falls. The Back of Falls will hit you like a tonne of bricks. With 200km in your legs, you’ll quickly learn why the first pinch is called WTF Corner. It’s a steep and relentless climb with little reprieve.
Climb 1: Tawonga Gap
7.5km | 476m elevation | 6% average gradient
Climb 2: Mt Hotham
29.9km | 1,303m elevation | 4% average gradient
Climb 3: Falls Creek
22.6km | 980m elevation | 4% average gradient
7.5km | 476m elevation | 6% average gradient
The first of the peaks to climb, Tawonga Gap is the smallest, but should still not be underestimated. After the descent of Falls Creek this is the first serious effort required in Peaks Challenge Falls Creek. The climb has a few tight hairpins but generally is a consistent gradient and effort required.
Consider the amount of effort you expel, with an eye on your riding time with two peaks still to come.
“Rolling along the precipitous shoulders of Hotham, the summit in reach. At one with the mountain, touching the sky, and driven by legs of steel” – 2015 Peaks Finisher
29.9km | 1,303m elevation | 4% average gradient
With its “formidable length and unforgettable moon-like summit”, the second peak to conquer, Mt. Hotham is among Victoria’s most iconic cycling climbs.
The best way to pace yourself for the climb of Mt Hotham is to mentally divide into thirds – steep, false flat, steep. Taken as a whole, it’s a long tough climb, eased a little by a relatively gentle middle-third, and punctuated by a few very steep sections. The first of these, the Meg, is a 300 metre stretch with a gradient of 11.8%. The second steep section, CRB Hill, is a 700 metre stretch with gradients in excess of 10%. And finally, you confront the Diamantina, the last and arguably toughest section of the climb (1.4km at 9%).
Push through the pain and you are rewarded with views of Hotham Heights and the Mt Hotham Alpine Resort Entry.
“Cresting the back of ‘Falls’ and realising all the training and lonely kilometres on the road had paid off. All of those self doubts were gone – I was going to make it.” – 2016 Peaks Finisher
22.6km | 980m elevation | 4% average gradient
The final climb in Peaks Challenge Falls Creek is the Falls Creek climb from the Omeo side. With the road only being sealed in 2009, from the Omeo Highway to the edge of Falls Creek at Windy Corner, this climb is still a relative unknown to many cyclists. However, those that have tackled the climb will not forget it quickly.
With the first 8 kilometres averaging around 10% gradient, it has been known to push many a cyclist to their limit.
Get ready for Peaks Challenge Falls Creek on Sunday 10 March 2019
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