2023 National Gravel Championship Course

Get the low down on both the long and short course.
Choose your event wisely and help prevent a pointless sacrifice to the gravel gods.

COURSE MAPS

GRAVEL GRADES

A guide to the Cycling Tips Gravel Grading can be found HERE

LONG COURSE DETAIL

106km - 2300M ELEVATION

This is not going to be a teddy bears picnic, 2300m elevation is some serious gain and not for the faint hearted. There are 3 major climbs on route, Mutual Valley Climb, Ralph Falls and the final one leading us onto Mt Albert road. We recommend that you carefully consider your course length, and be sure not to make a meaningless sacrifice to the gravel gods.

13% bitumen over 4 short sections
67% Grade 1, 2 to 3 Gravel with a slight bias towards more Grade 3
18% Grade 4 Gravel
2% Grade 5 Gravel

*NOTE - U19 Category Will Start from Ringarooma - 70km

3 x TIMED CLIMBS

1 - MUTUAL VALLEY

OK. Lets get things started. This one is going to thin the pack early doors. 8.3km with an average of 4.2% sounds like a teddy bears picnic, but do not be fooled. A longish climb with a few flat sections that kicks hard at the finale, the perfect opportunity for the ALL DAY BREAKAWAY attempt! Unleash the inner devil and let the leg snapping begin!

2 - RALPH FALLS

This segment is 10.5km long, gains 600m and has an average gradient of 5%. The max gradient is about 16% which occurs right at the top (Of course it does!!)

3 - THE UN-NAMED CLIMB OF HELL 😈

This segment is 3.5km long, gains 280m and has an average gradient of 8%. This average contains a small descent early in the climb, with the majority of the climb averaging over 9%. The max gradient is about 15%.

SHORT COURSE DETAIL

54km - 1200M ELEVATION

A more practical course for the sensible folk and social types. The course is longer than previous years, but the overall elevation is similar. We will include a KOM Timed Section this year, Mutual Valley, as we head out towards Weldborough. The climbing continues steadily after the KOM before a lightning descent down Dead Horse Hill followed by some lovely rolling hills through farming country. The final pinch at around 46km, not long out of Ringarooma, will be the perfect spot to test the resolve of your riding buddies before you descend at warp speed to the finish line at Branxholm.

40% bitumen over 4 short sections
30% Grade 2 to 3 Gravel with a bias towards more Grade 2
25% Grade 4 Gravel
5% Grade 5 Gravel

1 x TIMED CLIMB

MUTUAL VALLEY