2025 Peaks Challenge – Tackling Australia’s Toughest Gran Fondo
Bicycle Network’s signature annual road cycling event Peaks Challenge has concluded, with 2000 riders at the Falls Creek for the early-morning Sunday start.
Covering 235km and a staggering 4000 vertical metres, pain and suffering were shared amongst the combatants – some there for a first taste of Australia’s toughest Gran Fondo, others lining up to beat previous personal bests.
Finishing with the impressive time of just over eight and a half hours, Sydney bike shop owner Ben Larsen detailed highlights of the ride over the rooftop of Australia.
“Ride buddy Paul Serra and I were up early for a hair-raising 30 kilometre high-speed descent down to the first 7.5km climb of Tawonga Gap where we caught the 9 hour pace group,” he said,
“We quickly covered the distance to the start of the 30km beast of Mountain Hotham,” Ben continued.
“Paulie got bitten by cramps after 10km of climbing and I headed off solo. Over 100 minutes of climbing straight up including a quick stop for hydration and I was on the 80 kp/h descent down towards Dinner Plain and the 100km towards the feared ‘Back of Falls’ the final steep 20km climb back towards Falls Creek.
“I paired up with three guys and made good time until we lost two to cramps and two of us continued to the final aid station of Anglers Rest.”
“The final climb was a killer but I had fuelled well and paced perfectly so finished feeling super strong and clock 8h41m to also get the cherished ‘Sub 10 hr jersey’.”
“Paulie nailed a 9h55m to also get a special jersey after a massive cramp battle. It was an amazing weekend, an epic location and 2000 people taking on a truly challenging day. Thanks for all the amazing support this week and so good to see so many of my customers down here willing to smash themselves.”
“To quote the Terminator, ‘I’ll be back’.”
Eventually after 200km in the saddle, Ben and his riding mates hit the famous ‘WTF’ corner and it’s 30% gradient.
“We crawled up double digit grades for much of the first half of the climb at snail’s pace” he wrote. “To add insult to injury, I slashed my tyre 3 km up and just managed to plug it and nurse a 25psi tyre for the remaining 33km.
Keen to read more about Peaks Challenge or express interest in the 2026 event? A feature article is coming in the Autumn edition of Ride On Magazine, and you can find out more at www.bicyclenetwork.com.au
