25 years of multi-sport racing
The Freycinet Challenge is a landmark in Australia’s multi-sport calendar. Since its first edition in 2000, it has drawn athletes from across the country — and beyond — to test themselves across the spectacular wilds of Tasmania’s Freycinet Peninsula.
Origins: Wineglass Bay Classic (2000)
The inaugural event was held in 2000 under the name Wineglass Bay Classic. The concept was simple yet bold: host an adventure race that both challenged athletes and celebrated the region’s stunning natural beauty. A modest field of 80 competitors signed on for the debut 2-day event, and the race’s inaugural solo victors were Kris Clauson (male) and Imogen Pearce (female).
In 2001, the event took on its now-familiar title: the Freycinet Challenge. For a time, it was also known as the Freycinet Lodge Challenge, reflecting a period when the race began and ended at the Lodge within Freycinet National Park.
Evolution of Course & Format
In its early years, the race transitions were dispersed across multiple locations around Coles Bay, and the course was significantly more grueling than today’s iteration. That said, the 2007 edition pushed teams through a course that took 10 to 13 hours to complete.
Over time the format evolved. By 2008, event organisers consolidated transitions and the finish line to the Village Green (opposite the Iluka Tavern) — the same location used today. The modern Freycinet Challenge encompasses trail running, mountain biking, road cycling, and paddling over a total distance of 166 km across two days. Most teams now complete the full course in 7 to 10 hours, while solo competitors typically finish between 8 and 11 hours, depending on conditions.
Athletes undertaking the full 2-day solo event burn an estimated 7,000 calories — roughly equivalent to eating 20 Aussie meat pies!
Participation & Legacy
As of 2024, about 1,970 teams and 528 solo athletes have successfully completed the Challenge. From weekend warriors to seasoned racers, participants bring their own blend of competitiveness and camaraderie, helping the event maintain its dual character: serious yet accessible.
Though many Tasmanian athletes make the short trip to Coles Bay, participants have also travelled from other Australian states and overseas — from the USA, Wales, and France among them. A number of competitors have returned year after year, and a few have been nearly constant presences since the event’s inception in 2000.
While the equipment (bikes, kayaks, running shoes) has evolved dramatically over the past quarter-century, one thing has remained constant: the grit, enthusiasm and determination of those who take the start line. By taking on the Freycinet Challenge, competitors join a “fraternity” of athletes bound by a shared passion for multi-sport adventure and an enduring legacy that has made the Challenge synonymous with endurance, community, and the wild beauty of Tasmania.
