49km Course Description & Maps

The 49km race provides a spectacular ride through towering timber forests on a beautiful circuit through the Otway Ranges. This is an achievable ride for riders of variable fitness who want to enjoy some fresh air on quiet dirt roads.

49km GOGG Course Notes:           

  • Courses are conducted exclusively on 2WD dirt roads – no single track
  • Roads will be dirt roads – predominantly smooth hard-packed earth with some very short sections of looser gravel or slightly rougher terrain
  • Require minimal ‘technical bike skills’ to complete and are achievable by all recreational riders
  • Includes 1x ‘Time-out’ zone where the race clock stops so you can wait for your friends and enjoy a coffee along the way
  • GOGG designed to be completed on either a cyclocross or gravel grind / adventure bike, a road bike (with min 32mm wide tyres designed for gravel), mountain bike or flat handle-bar hybrid bike. Many options!

“The course takes you through some of the most spectacular scenery you will ever see and will challenge you physically and mentally, but the camaraderie and support from your fellow riders makes it all worth it.” – Ben McDonald, 2021 GOGG participant.

COURSE DESCRIPTION – 49KM Small Ring

Welcome to the small ring GOGG – the 49km course is a shorter and easier gravel alternative that still delivers big time with magnificent scenery and wilderness riding from start to finish. This ride is aimed at the recreational rider or someone who is keen for an exploratory trip through the Otways on their bike.

This is a shortened loop to the Big Ring course and takes in one long steady climb up Delaneys Track before a time-out coffee stop on the top of the Otway Range and a fun descent back down to the finish, passing through stunning tall timber forests the whole way.

Course Stats

Length: 49km 
Total elevation gain / loss: 1,030m approx
Legs:

  • 33km Leg 1 – Forrest to the Water Pt – 33km total(Start – Delaney Tk – Mt Sabine Rd)
  • 16km Leg 2 – Water pt to Forrest 49km total (Footy Ground – Yaugher – Footy Ground)

Skratch Labs fuel stations – see more details below:

  • 33km point at Mt Sabine Rd / Kaangalang Rd junction.

COURSE MAP

CLICK HERE to see COURSE MAP ON TRAIL FORKS

Scan the QR Code above to download the terrific CAPRA mapping app and receive the 100km map on your phone. (Follow the prompts to create an account and you’ll find the maps in the app’s ‘Library’)

Time out zones.

Both GOGG races have some time-out section(s) on the course where your race time is no longer ticking over (ie, your timing chip is ‘paused’!) These are included because it’s in the style of gravel grinding, allowing you to stop and have a drink – order a coffee, regroup with your friends perhaps, and then set off again.

“Time outs” will be recorded by the electronic timing hardware set up at these locations for 49km riders:

  • 33km point at Mt Sabine Rd / Kaangalang Rd junction. (97km and 49km riders) Time stops ~50m before the junction / Time starts 50m after the junction. A Skratch Feedzone and a coffee van will be at the junction in between.

Points to note:

  • Limit of 1hr maximum to be used during the “time out”. Riders stopping for longer than 1hr will be given a time penalty. Note, it is not compulsory to stop, just an option as it’s an ‘untimed’ section of the course.
  • Riders crossing any time point with less than 1 second apart will be given the time of the first rider to cross the point (as per the Tour de France). This is to help ensure that riders know they are on the same race time if they entered / exited all timing points together.
  • The CLIF Fuel Station at the junction of Mt Sabine Rd and Kaanglang Rd will have water, electrolyte, fruit, lollies and a coffee cart selling barista made coffee, snacks and drinks for you to stop and enjoy. Coffee cart items are for sale so remember to take some cash with you as the internet connection is dodgy in the rainforest!

GOGG NOTES ON COURSE MARKING:

For all courses:

  • all intersections will be clearly marked and occasional markings with tape and or arrows along tracks to confirm that you are on the right route.
  • one or two pieces of the relevant coloured tape will always be placed immediately after a track junction to confirm you are traveling along the correct course.
  • It is the riders’ responsibility to ensure they are on the correct course for all events.

General notes about the courses

  • All roads remain open to the public. Whilst there are not many cars – there are still some so ride safely by sticking to your side of the road, being aware for cars and always riding in control as if there may be car around the blind corner ahead (because one day there will be)
  • 97km riders go along the Great Ocean Road (GOR) for 9km which is definitely still open to traffic and can be busy. This section of course involves two left hand turns and is all in a time out zone but it is up to the riders to to be aware of over vehicles and stay safe.