Peaks Challenge Falls Creek
Steep and relentless is an understatement
The route
Peaks Challenge Falls Creek is a 235km ride with 4,000+ metres of climbing, set among the backdrop of the beautiful Victorian Alps.
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
CLIMB 1
Tawonga Gap
“Tawonga is just a speed hump compared to a Grand Tour climb. That said, I managed to use every single cog in my 26T cassette to get over Tawonga Gap comfortably.” – Cycling Tips
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 of a consistent gradient.
Consider the amount of effort you expel and keep 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
CLIMB 2
Mount Hotham
“You will feel every one of the 30km from Harrietville to Hotham village.” – Simon Gerrans
29.9km | 1,303m elevation | 4% average gradient
With its “formidable length and unforgettable moon-like summit”, the second peak to conquer, Mount Hotham, is among Victoria’s most iconic cycling climbs.
The best way to pace yourself for the Hotham climb is to mentally divide it 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
Climb 3
Falls Creek
“It hits you like a sucker punch in the face. The first 10km has nearly a 10% gradient and I swear people were walking past me quicker than I was riding.” – Cycling Tips
22.6km | 980m elevation | 4% average gradient
The final climb at Peaks Challenge Falls Creek is ‘The Beast’ at the back of Falls Creek, from the Omeo approach. With the road from the Omeo Highway to the edge of Falls Creek at Windy Corner only being sealed in 2009, 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 eight kilometres averaging around 10% gradient, it has been known to push many a cyclist to their limit.
Peaks Challenge 2020 presale entries are open until Sunday 31 March!
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