Like the great gravel races gone before, the Sunday Creek Classic is as much a personal feat of epic endurance as it is a race.
And far out is it a race.
Starting out in the sleepy farming town of Kenilworth on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland Australia the 120km, almost entirely gravel route, heads towards Kandanga and Bella Creek and then west to Jimna before returning through Sunday Creek to Kenilworth.
The route takes in everything from dry eucalyptus to sub-tropical rainforest forest and open cattle grazing country. And with 3,000 meters of climbing including the notorious climb to Mt Buggery, this event is one of the toughest one day gravel events on the Australian calendar.
“Expect this to be tough, very tough – this event is only for those who can race and complete a hard core challenge. There will be minimal support during large sections of the event. You will be expected to be self sufficient and carry your own water and nutrition for long sections of the course.”
The course is a 120km dirty Gran Fondo with 3,000m of climbing featuring fire trails, gravel roads and some single track. It is suitable for gravel bikes, cycle cross bikes, mountain bikes or road bikes with clearance for gravel tires (35mm plus recommended). Best leave those carbon soled road shoes behind – you will be pushing the bike at some stage!
The event is semi-supported with water and refuelling stops along the way. Riders will need to be self sufficient for large sections of the course carrying sufficient water, spare tubes and parts. A sag wagon will follow the riders sweeping the course and event first aid will be on hand in case of emergency.