Seven challenging rides. A hill to test every rider.
50 km Tidbinbilla Challenge
From Stromlo, following Uriarra Rd, enjoy the descent of the three sisters into the Murrumbidgee River valley; cross the mighty ‘Bidgee and head towards Uriarra Homestead where you turn towards the Cotter for another exhilarating descent down Mt McDonald passing the Cotter dam. Climb out of the Cotter and pass through the Pierces Creek Forest to reach the Gravel Pit turnaround for a well-earned break with snacks and drinks available. Retrace your steps back to the Cotter, crossing the Murrumbidgee again before climbing out of the river valley via Cotter Rd back to Stromlo.
- Start time: 8.30am
- 3.5 hour target time
- 880 metres of climbing
- Grades are up to 11%
- Participants will be electronically timed at the start and finish
- Throw and go tags to be handed in at Gravel Pit checkpoint
- Water and nutrition available at checkpoints
Training program
50 km Tidbinbilla Challenge training program
Route map
Ride profile
Fitz’s Challenge 50km Route Profile
GPX file
50 km – https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32108472
105 km Tharwa Challenge
Stromlo to picturesque Tharwa village and return. An undulating course with a number of climbs but nothing too serious. Take in the Murrumbidgee valley, crossing the river at Uriarra Crossing then head to Uriarra Homestead before turning onto Brindabella Rd for the descent of Mount McDonald into the Cotter. Continue on Paddy’s River Rd, winding through Pierces Creek Forest; pass Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and Corin Rd before descending into Paddy’s River picnic area. Climb out of the valley and enjoy the more open farmland through the Murrumbidgee valley. You will soon reach your turnaround point at the beautiful Tharwa village. Here you can have a well-earned rest; buy a coffee or just enjoy the friendly hospitality of the Pedal Power volunteers providing snacks and drinks. Having rested and re-fuelled, retrace your steps to the Cotter Reserve and return to Stromlo via Cotter Rd.
- Start time: 8am
- 7 hour target time
- 1660 metres of climbing
- Grades are up to 11%
- Participants will be electronically timed at the start, Tharwa and finish
- Water and nutrition available at checkpoints
Training program
105 km Tharwa Challenge training program
Ride map
Ride profile
Fitz’s Challenge 105km Route Profile
GPX file
105 km – https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32108455
130 km Corin Challenge
The Tharwa Challenge is 105km with 1660 metres of climbing. Looking for a bit extra? Then the Corin Challenge is for you. As well as adding 25 or so kilometres, it also adds almost 600 metres of climbing giving a total of 2250 metres. On this ride, you follow the same course as the Tharwa Challenge, but on your return (about 13km from Tharwa Village) you come to Corin Rd which you will follow for about 13km. Corin Rd is a steady climb passing the Woods Reserve camp and Gibraltar falls before reaching your turnaround point at the Smokers Trail carpark just beyond the Corin Forest Recreation area. Retrace your steps descending Corin Rd and turning right onto Tidbinbilla Rd taking you back to the Cotter before returning to Stromlo via Cotter Rd.
- Start time: 8am
- 9 hours target maximum time
- 2,250 meters of vertical climbing
- Grades up to 12%
- Participants will be electronically timed at the start, Tharwa and finish.
- Throw and go tags to be handed in at Corin Forest checkpoint
- Water and nutrition available at checkpoints
Training program
130 km Corin Challenge training program
Ride map
Ride profile
Fitz’s Challenge 130 km Route Profile
GPX file
130 km – https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31852156
165 km Fitz’s Classic
This classic hill-climbing ride has a long history with the Canberra road cycling fraternity. With almost 3000 metres of climbing, it will test your stamina and endurance. As well as taking you through the Murrumbidgee and Cotter river valleys, you will go beyond Tharwa Village deep into the Namadgi National Park. From Tharwa, following Naas road, you meander through the Gudgenby River valley passing Mount Tennent and Honeysuckle Rd before being confronted with the famous Fitz’s Hill. 2.7km of steep climbing (10% overall) gets you to the top where you can again enjoy the Pedal Power volunteers’ hospitality. Take the steep descent of the South side of Fitz’s and pass Orroral Rd; meander through the eastern Bimberi Wilderness Area before descending into the Rendezvous Ck checkpoint for a rest and refuelling stop. Retrace your steps, climbing all those descents you enjoyed on the way out. And don’t forget lunch is provided at Tharwa Village – a fine spread put on by Amnesty International. After lunch return to Stromlo via the Cotter and Cotter Road.
- Start time 7am
- 11 hour target time
- 2940 metres of climbing
- Grades are over 12%
- Participants will be electronically timed at the start, Rendezvous Creek and finish
- Water and nutrition available at checkpoints
- Lunch provided at the Tharwa checkpoint on the return leg
Training program
165 km Fitz’s Classic training program
Ride map
Ride profile
Fitz’s Challenge 165km km Route Profile
GPX file
165 km – https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32108352
190 km Fitz’s Classic Plus
As the name suggests, this ride takes in all the magic of the Fitz’s Classic. We have added about 25km by taking in the Corin Road climb up to the Smokers Trail Checkpoint. On your return trip past Tharwa Village, pick up Corin Rd about 13km along Tidbinbilla Rd. It’s an additional 500 metres of climbing taking you past the Woods Reserve camp, Gibraltar Falls and the Corin Forest Recreation area. At the checkpoint, you turn around and descend Corin Rd before turning right onto Tidbinbilla Rd and returning to Stromlo via the Cotter and Cotter Rd.
- Start time: 7am
- 12.5 hours target maximum time
- 3,450 meters vertical climbing
- Grades up to 12%
- Participants will be electronically timed at the start, Rendezvous Creek and finish.
- Throw and go tags to be handed in at at Uriarra Homestead checkpoint
- Water and nutrition available at checkpoints
- Lunch provided at the Tharwa checkpoint on the return leg
Training program
190 km Fitz’s Classic Plus training program
Ride map
Ride profile
Fitz’s Challenge 185km km Route Profile
GPX file
190 km – https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31852212
210 km Fitz’s Epic
This ride could be named the Fitz’s Classic Plus, Plus because it follows Fitz’s Classic route but includes two additional side road climbs. Following the Classic route to Rendezvous Ck checkpoint, Epic riders, on their return trip, take Apollo Rd (about 20kms from Rendezvous Ck) up to Honeysuckle Campground. Apollo Rd provides 9km of steady climbing up to the former tracking station site. Riders turnaround here for the descent back to Naas Rd, turning right here to return to Tharwa Village for lunch. The other additional side road climb is up Corin Road to the Smokers Trail checkpoint.
- Start time: 6am
- 13.5 hour target time
- 4030 metres of climbing
- Grades are over 12%
- Participants will be electronically timed at the start, Rendezvous Creek and finish
- Throw and go tags to be handed in at Honeysuckle Creek and Corin Forest checkpoints
- Water and nutrition available at checkpoints
- Lunch provided at the Tharwa checkpoint on the return leg
Training program
210 km Fitz’s Epic training program
Ride map
Ride profile
Fitz’s Challenge 210km Route Profile
GPX file
210 km – https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32108539
255 km Fitz’s Extreme
Extreme it is with 5000 metres of climbing through the hilly terrain of the Brindabella Ranges and Namadgi National Park. With Fitz’s Classic as the backbone, the Extreme takes in all the side road climbs of the Epic. In addition, riders on their return to Stromlo turn left onto Brindabella Rd near the Cotter Reserve to climb Mt McDonald back to the Uriarra Homestead. Here they turn left following Brindabella Rd to the Blue Range checkpoint and turnaround. Returning back past Uriarra Homestead, riders continue onto Uriarra Rd and return to Stromlo via Uriarra Crossing. The final climbing challenge is then ahead to come out of the Murrumbidgee valley they ascend the three sisters before reaching the finish at Stromlo.
- Start time: 6am
- 13.5 hour target time
- 5000 metres of climbing
- Grades are over 12%
- Participants will be electronically time at the start, Rendezvous Creek and finish
- Throw and go tags to be handed in at Orroral, Honeysuckle Creek and Kangaroo Creek checkpoints
- Water and nutrition available at checkpoints
- Lunch provided at the Tharwa checkpoint on the return leg
Training program
255 km Fitz’s Extreme training program
Ride map
Ride profile
Fitz’s Challenge 255km Route Profile
