The Peaks Challenge Falls Creek (formerly 3 Peaks Challenge) is a challenging cycling event held in the Australian Alps region of Victoria in March each year.

It was launched by Bicycle Network in 2010, and aims to provide cyclists with one of the world’s toughest and most picturesque cycling challenges through Victoria’s Alpine region.

Starting and finishing at Falls Creek, the 235 km route incorporates more than 4,400 vertical metres with three major climbs – Tawonga Gap, Mount Hotham and Falls Creek. With climbs comparable to a stage in the Tour de France, riders must complete the circuit within 13 hours to receive a "Finisher’s Jersey". In 2013 a special jersey was introduced to recognise those cyclists who complete the event within 10 hours.

The cycling challenge attracts cyclists from around the world including countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, United States, Hong Kong and New Zealand.

The event seeks to create the unique, "European-style" cycling experience that riders could not undertake without Bicycle Network’s support; showcasing the region and furthering Bicycle Network’s mission of “more people cycling more often”.

Event entry includes a controlled seeded wave start (descent down Falls Creek) with timed climbs, 85 km of road closures, mobile support teams – lead vehicle, SAG wagon, motorcycle marshals, mechanical support, seven rest areas with food, medical and mechanical support, post-ride food and celebration, food and clothing valet service.

The fastest time ever at Peaks Challenge Falls Creek was set by Australian cyclist Ben Dyball, with a time of 7:02:57. The Strava segment can be found here.

Course profile

The traditional route has little flat sections, with the majority of the ride either climbing or descending. The route starts at the top of Falls creek with a long descent to the valley floor of about 28 km. Immediately the first climb off Tawonga gap starts which is about 7 km long at an average gradient around 6%, rising just under 500 m from the start. Tawonga gap descends to Germantown at which point the main flat section of the route starts to Harrietville, a distance of 22 km rising no more than 200m along the length. At Harrietville the longest climb of the day starts to the top of Mount Hotham. This is a 30 km long climb broken into two 10 km steep sections averaging 6% gradient plus a flatter midsection at 2%. At the top of Mt Hotham a long descent to Omeo is started, which extends for some 50 km taking in Dinner plain along the way and a 4 km climb just before Omeo is reached. At Omeo a further 4 km climb is encountered along the road to the start of the climb to Falls Creek (known as "the back of Falls). The climb starts exactly on 200 km distance with the encounter of "WTF "corner", which is a 600 m section of road rising to 15% gradient. After this point is passed the rest of the climb for the next 9 km does not drop below 9% the whole way until Trapyard gap is reached. Here the road gets easier for the last 500 m vertical elevation to the summit, and the ride them is completed by a short descent into the township, around a mountain top reservoir.


2011

More than 1,000 people participated in the 2011 ride.[1] After more wet conditions, Nicholas Mitchell was the winner, with a time of 8:07:15.[2]

3 Peaks Challenge 2011 Top 10
PlaceRiderTime
1Nicholas Mitchell8:07:15
2Jason Spencer8:48:32
3Trevor Spencer8:48:35
4Piers Chamberlen8:52:21
5Dean Tonks8:58:31
6David Hatley9:01:32
7Jamin Hill9:07:20
8Warren Doyle9:07:59
9Alexandre Blanc9:10:51
10Joseph Krusec9:12:28

2012

In 2012 960 people started the event, 93% completed inside the time limit. The winner was Nicholas Mitchell with a time of 8:08:43.[3]

3 Peaks Challenge 2012 Top 10[4]
PlaceRiderTime
1Nicholas Mitchell8:08:43
2James Nitis8:29:57
3Piers Chamberlen8:31:36
4Peter English8:37:25
5Olivier Pomie8:37:30
6Nathan Olsen8:41:39
7Gary Rubie8:44:36
8Peter Gleeson8:44:44
9Peter Reid8:49:28
10Fred Smith8:49:53

2013

In 2013 1300 started but only 83% finished. This year the route was changed due to the road to Mt Hotham subsiding as a consequence of bush fires and heavy rain. Instead the route was Tawonga gap, Mt Buffalo and the front of Falls Creek. The large number of people not finishing was mainly due to the extreme heat experienced in the day (in excess of 38 °C in the afternoon). The winner was Stephen Cunningham with a time of 7:23:28.[5]

SCODY 3 Peaks Challenge 2013 Top 10
PlaceRiderTime
1Stephen Cunningham7:23:28
2Alexander Davey7:31:47
3Connor Hughes7:36:30
4Alex Malone7:41:47
5Ronald Visser7:43:11
6Liam Kelly7:43:58
7David Evans7:46:53
8Ashley Hall7:47:49
9Tristan Bauer7:49:42
10Sam Walcher7:54:02

2014

In 2014 the event was sold out and 1781 riders started, 92% completing the ride inside the time limit. the course this year was the traditional route once more in ideal riding conditions. For the second year in a row, the winner was Stephen Cunningham with a time of 7:36:05.[6]

SCODY 3 Peaks Challenge 2014 Top 10
PlaceRiderTime
1Stephen Cunningham7:36:05
2Alex Davey7:36:22
3Steve Guy7:42:27
4Andrew Wagner7:43:21
5Andrew Bryant7:54:30
6Cameron Hughes7:55:56
7Simon Finch8:02:12
8Shawn Power8:11:46
9Matthew Payne8:14:19
10Ben Griffiths8:14:29

2015

The event has been renamed to "Falls Creek Peaks Challenge", and was again sold out. 1,895 started the event, with a 93% completion rate.[7] The male winner was Andrew Bryant with a time of 7:13:00, which at the time was a new Peaks Challenge record. The female winner was Tanya Freschi with a time of 8:21:54.[8]

2016

On Sunday 13 March, 2016, nearly 2,000 riders tackled Australia's toughest one-day challenge, Peaks Challenge Falls Creek.

2019

On Sunday the 10th of March 2019, riders set off on the 10th anniversary of Peaks Challenge Falls Creek. At the time, this event saw the largest number of riders finish under the 8 hour mark. The first female to cross the line was Taryn Heather with a time of 7:50:34, at the time becoming the first ever female rider to finish under 8 hours.[9] The first male finisher was Ben Dyball with a time of 7:02:57, the quickest time ever at Peaks Challenge Falls Creek.[10]

2020

In 2020 (the 11th edition) 1322 riders took on the course, with 1076 riders completing the course in under 13 hours. The first male finisher was Mark O'Brien with a time of 7:39:52, and the first female finisher was Justine Barrow with a time of 8:48:20.[11]

Peaks Challenge 2020 Top 10
PlaceRiderTime
1Mark O'Brien7:39:52
2Jay Vine7:43:27
3Carlos Domingues7:46:52
4Karl Ulbrich8:02:55
5Chris Ling8:02:57
6Francois Balland8:05:38
7Timothy Cameron8:05:40
8Leigh Phillips8:08:38
9Dylan McKenna8:08:41
10Stephen Lane8:09:43


88% of participants completed the course within the 13 hour deadline.[12]

2021

This year, King of the Peak (KOP, male), and Queen of the Peak (QOP, female) were introduced for the fastest time up Mount Hotham, Tawonga Gap (East), and Falls Creek (Omeo Side). Mark O'Brien won the King of Peaks by finishing all three climbs first, and he finished 12th overall. Justine Barrow won the Queen of Peaks by finishing first on all three of the climbs, and was also the first overall female finisher with a time of 7:34:21, a new course record.[13]

Peaks Challenge 2021 Top 10
PlaceRiderTime
1Stinus Kaempe7:08:40
2Francois Balland7:11:09
3Chris Hargreaves7:11:28
4Brendon Davids7:13:46
5Leigh Phillips7:17:15
6Chris Ling7:20:46
7Clint Perrett7:20:53
8Geoffrey Rickards7:25:02
9James Mortimer7:25:43
10Dylan McKenna7:25:46

2022

In 2022, 1426 riders finished Peaks Challenge Falls Creek within the time limit. The fastest male finisher was Jack Aitken with a time of 7:13:38, and the fastest female finisher was Emma Padovan with a time of 8:47:58.

Peaks Challenge 2022 Top 10
PlaceRiderTime
1Jack Aitken7:13:38
2Angus Calder7:27:59
3Rob Redpath7:33:11
4Chris Ling7:38:08
5Daniel Forsythe7:38:10
6Daniel Potter7:38:11
7Clint Perrett7:38:12
8James Kelly7:42:01
9Michael O'Keeffe7:43:12
10Brent Ducker7:44:11

Awards

The event is recognised as Australia’s toughest single day cycling event, and in 2013 was named in Global Cycling Network’s Top 10 Best Sportives and Gran Fondos[14] – one of only two events in the list outside of Europe.

In 2013, the ride was awarded as a finalist in the 'Adventure Tourism' category at the Victorian Tourism Awards.

References

  1. "Peaks Challenge Falls Creek Turns 10". la velocita. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  2. "2011 3 Peaks Challenge". myraceresult. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  3. "2012 3 Peaks Challenge Results". myraceresults. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  4. "2012 3 Peaks Challenge Results". myraceresults. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  5. "SCODY 3 Peaks Challenge 2013 Results". myraceresult. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  6. "SCODY 3 Peaks Challenge 2014 Results". myraceresult. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  7. "Bicycle Network - 2015 Annual Review" (PDF). Bicycle Network. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  8. "Peaks Challenge 2015: Conquered". rideon magazine. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  9. "Taryn Heather - 3 Peaks". specialized. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  10. "Peaks Challenge Falls Creek - The Legend". Bicycle Network. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  11. "LATEST NEWS THE AUSTRALIAN EPIC 235KM PEAKS CHALLENGE – FULL RESULTS". granfondodailynews. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  12. "Highlights from Peaks Challenge Falls Creek 2016". YouTube. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  13. "LATEST NEWS KING AND QUEEN OF THE PEAKS CROWNED AT PEAKS CHALLENGE 2021 – FULL RESULTS". granfondodailynews. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  14. "Top 10 Best Sportives And Gran Fondos To Cycle In The World - Global Cycling Network". Global Cycling Network. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
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