I'm hoping to get another project out soon, although I'm kinda split on whether to continue with East European classics, or perhaps a zcts file for some mountainous regions of Victoria.
I'm hoping to get another project out soon, although I'm kinda split on whether to continue with East European classics, or perhaps a zcts file for some mountainous regions of Victoria.
From a CT statmakers point of view I'd love an expansion of real Eastern European races, as that would offer more opportunties to add such CT teams. Otherwise I could imagine that Africa is a place to go for rather interesting routes
After finding out the most real East European races that need making don't even have DEMs () I'm now on my way to making a zcts of the Alpine Region of Victoria and surrounds, but to keep my motivation fueled I decided to split the stagemaking into several classics, the first of which is the Three Peaks Challenge (the route is also known as Alpine Classic 250/Extreme, Three Peaks and about a thousand other names it seems), based on a real-life sportif which coincidently takes place this weekend.
Three Peaks Challenge
Beginning at the top of Falls Creek, the race loops round, topping Tawonga Gap before two of the toughest climbs in Victoria, or even Australia, Mount Hotham and the Back of Falls Creek, before finishing in the Alpine village of Falls Creek. The final kilometres of the stage are diificult, but more suited to high power riders and puncheurs rather than climbers, though they should be dropped on the difficult climbs beforehand.
The Course
As mentioned, the race kicks off at the summit of Falls Creek, known for it's great skiing, the riders immediately take the fast descent down into Mount Beauty.
The early descent could force some riders to step out very early
Out of Mount Beauty, the riders take on Tawonga Gap, the shortest and easiest climb of the stage, but still a very difficult heartstarter which will likely decide who figures in the break.
At over 7% for 7km, Tawonga Gap will make sure your legs are up to scratch
After Tawonga, there are some flat kilometres as the riders turn towards Mount Hotham, we traverse some small towns such as Smoko and Harrietville.
Then right out of Harrietville, Mount Hotham! Over 27km of climbing, broken up into three sections, 9 consistently hard kilometres, 9 kilometres of false flat and 9 kilometres with some very steep pitches but a few descents as well. There's still over 100 kilometres left when the riders summit it, but some brave riders may be motivated by the difficulty.
An early springboard or a chance to apply for Sky's TDF squad?
There's a plateau on the top of Mount Hotham, lending the climb that the riders descend next, Dinner Plain, it's name, though there is also an Alpine resort by that name. The descent has a few uphill portions in it and is very long, as the riders make their way into Omeo.
The long, long descent of Dinner Plain into Omeo
Coming out of Omeo the riders tackle a short climb before tracing some very windy roads through the tiny town of Angler's Rest and finally onto the star of the stage, the back of Falls Creek. The first 9km are at roughly 11% average before the climb levels out with many false flats and inconsistencies in a difficult finish.
The stage finishes in the Alpine village of Falls Creek with some beautiful views in the final kilometres, particularly overlooking and crossing the Rocky Valley Storage Reservoir, the latter sections of the stage are loosely 'flat' so the finale will actually suit the strongest riders who actually make it up the first 9km of the climb.
The plan now is to continue building a zcts file of this region and surrounds, which might mean I post some more information, some previews or some more classics mountainous Aussie classics in the near future, though I suppose I'm not the best at following my plans.
Love the stage, love the project, love the presentation. Get it into MG
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Three Peaks Challenge 
