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Mountain Bike

There are two different courses for the Mountain Bike stages of the Freycinet Challenge, which take you into the Coles Bay Conservation Area and the Freycinet National Park.

The courses follow a combination of sealed roads, fire trails and 4WD tracks that lead you to some beautiful and remote locations. There are some challenging climbing sections on the courses, but you are rewarded with some epic downhill action where you can get some serious speed. There are plenty of jumps too, if you want to get some air-time! The trails could be wet, so you should expect it to be muddy in some places.

As with all the other stages, you are responsible for your own wellbeing when racing. Carrying your own hydration and nutrition is highly recommended.

Mountain Bike: Day 1

Stage: 4
Distance: 18.1 kilometres
Elevation Gain: 503 metres
Terrain: Sealed roads, fire trails, rough 4WD tracks, stream crossings
Equipment: Mountain bike (gravel bikes are not suitable)

Note: This course might be changing in 2024, which is subject to approval from the Parks & Wildlife Service. Watch this space!

After departing the Village Green, you ride out to the Coles Bay Road and turn right - heading along the sealed road towards the Wine Glass Bay carpark. Once you've gone past the National Park Visitor Centre, ride onto the new bike path and follow it until you get to the Cape Tourville Road. From here you turn left and follow the sealed road towards Cape Tourville. You'll be climbing for 4.5 kilometres from this point and there is a 400 metre section which has an average gradient of 19 percent, so get your legs ready! Before you reach Cape Tourville, you'll be turning left onto the 4WD track that leads you to Bluestone Bay. This track is like a rollercoaster and you can get some serious speed, as you make your way down to the waters edge. Take a moment to take in the spectacular view!

After climbing out of Bluestone Bay, you'll be following the trails on hilly terrain through the National Park until you start descending. This is where the fun begins! You'll be riding down disused 4WD tracks for about 4.3 kilometres, where there are heaps of places to do some jumps as you speed along the trail. The trail leads you into the bushland behind the Coles Bay village, known as Telstra Tower Hill, and there's just one more climb to do before you descend again - making your way back to the Village Green.

There will be race officials and SES personnel positioned along the route to help keep you on track and they'll be there for assistance, should it be required. 

IMPORTANT: The sealed road sections are NOT closed to other traffic, so normal road rules do apply - both for yourself and other vehicles.

View on Strava

Mountain Bike: Day 2

Stage: 7
Distance: 21.76 kilometres
Elevation Gain: 524 metres
Terrain: Fire trails, rough 4WD tracks, stream crossings
Equipment: Mountain bike (gravel bikes are not suitable)

Note: This course might be changing in 2024, which is subject to approval from the Parks & Wildlife Service. Watch this space!

Starting at the Village Green, you'll head out on the Telstra Track in a northerly direction. When they intersect South Friendly Beaches 4WD Road you'll turn right and follow the 4WD track in an easterly direction, which eventually leads you in a northerly direction again. The trail is rough and it gets pretty technical in places, with some hard climbs and tricky descents. There are some speedy descents too. The trail will lead you past a lagoon, until you reach the turning point at the southern end of Friendly's Beach. Take a moment to look at the beach. It's a magical place! 

You will then retrace your route, taking a slight detour that leads you into bushland behind the Coles Bay village, known as Telstra Tower Hill (if you did Day 1, you've been here before), and there's just one more climb to do before you descend again - making your way back to the Village Green.

There will be race officials and SES personnel positioned along the route to help keep you on track and they'll be there for assistance, should it be required.

Riders will need to keep left at all times to avoid on-coming cyclists.

View on Strava

Other stages

Take a look at the other stages of the race:

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