Course Description and Maps

Welcome to the 2021 Great Otway Gravel Grind (‘the GOGG’) – gravel riding at its best as you pass along an incredible corridor through the Otway forest, with views of the ocean lapping the Great Ocean Road!

Included below:

*Looking for the Otway Odyssey MTB Course details? CLICK HERE

“This is a ride that puts everything into perspective. The course is as competitive as you want to make it, and the time-out zones were brilliant to re-group, eat, and enjoy the stunning environment I was riding in.” M Purdie, 2020 Competitor

GOGG Key Course Notes:           

  • Courses are conducted exclusively on 2WD dirt roads – no single track
  • Roads will be dirt roads which vary from smooth hard-packed earth to some shorter sections of looser gravel or slightly rougher terrain
  • Require minimal ‘technical bike skills’ to complete and are achievable by all recreational riders
  • Include  ‘Time-out’ sections 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!

GOGG – BIG RING 97KM

The Big Ring 97km circuit takes riders on a terrific journey across the ranges to the coast line and back again. The roads are deeply submerged in the Otway forest with towering trees, ferns and fresh air lining the road before a pleaseant section along the Great Ocean Road. This is a terrific ride on traffic free roads that will put a smile on every rider’s face.

The Big Ring gravel grind commences with a lap of Forrest township and a mix of bitumen and dirt roads for the first 10km before a steady 12km climb up Delaneys Track to the high point of the race which is over 600m above sea level.

Riders then have an undulating ride along the spine of the Otways with CLIF Fuel Stations at the 33km point before a 20km descent on a quality dirt road to the world famous Great Ocean Road for a time-out café break by the sea when you arrive at Kennett River at the 53km pt.

The time-out / neutral zone means that you can stop and fuel up, wait for your mates (or even go for a swim?!) as you roll along the Great Ocean Road between the Kennett River and Wye River villages with the knowledge your race clock has paused. 

Pass through the timing gate at Wye River at the 63km pt and you are launching back into the race with a 16km climb back to the top of the Otways before a final descent into the finish at the Forrest Football ground.  This is truly a world class gravel ride.

Course stats:

Length: 97km 
Total elevation gain / loss: 2,260m approx
Legs:

  • Leg 1 (Start – Delaney Tk – Mt Sabine Rd – Hayden Tk – Thompsons Tk – Grey River Tk – Kennet River): 57km
  • Leg 2 (Kennett River – Great Ocean Road – Wye River): 9km (66km total).
              – UNTIMED section, all in the Time Out Zone.
  • Leg 3 (Wye River – Wye Rd – Mt Sabine Rd – Kaanglang Rd – Footy Ground): 31km (97km total).

CLIF Fuel Stations – see more details below:

  • 33km point at Mt Sabine Rd / Kaangalang Rd junction.
  • 57km point at the Kennet River shops in the Time Out Zone.
  • 65km point at the Wye River shops in the Time Out Zone.
  • 83km point at Mt Sabine Rd / Kaangalang Rd junction.

Click Here to view an interactive Map My Ride MAP of the 97km Course

GOGG – SMALL RING 49KM

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 a 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 stunnign tall timber forests the whole way.

Course stats (approx.)

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

  • Leg 1 (Start – Delaney Tk – Mt Sabine Rd): 33km.
  • Leg 2 (Footy Ground – Yaugher – Footy Ground): 16km.

CLIF Fuel Stations – see more details below:

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

Click here to view interactive Map My Ride MAP of the 49km Course

GOGG: CLIF Fuel Stations AND “TIME OUTS”.

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:

  • 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 CLIF Fuel Station and a coffee van will be at the junction in between.
  • 57km point at the Grey River Rd / Great Ocean Road junction. (97km riders only). Time stops on Grey River Rd ~50m before the junction.

Riders continue along the Great Ocean Road between the 57km pt and 66km pt, passing through the townships of Kennet River and Wye River / Separation Creek where there are a couple of café’s, toilets, and even a beach you can swim at during your race without impacting your time.

  • 66km point at the Wye Rd / Great Ocean Road junction. (97km riders only) Time starts on Wye Rd ~50m after the junction.
  • 83km point at Mt Sabine Rd / Kaangalang Rd junction (same point as above – 97km riders only) Time stops ~50m before the junction / Time starts 50m after the junction. A CLIF Fuel Station and a coffee van is 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, Hammer Heed, bananas, lollies and a coffee cart selling barista made coffee, tea, milk shakes and San Pellegrino for you to stop and enjoy. Coffee cart items are for sale ($4 a coffee) so remember to take some money with you!

GOGG NOTES ON COURSE MARKING:

For all courses:

  • there will be red and white barrier tape across some trails which indicate that this is the incorrect route, go back. DO NOT cross over any red and white tape.
  • 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.
  • ‘Caution’ signs or signs with multiple arrows pointing down indicate that there is a difficult or technical section ahead and that you should definitely slow down and take care ahead.
  • It is the riders’ responsibility to ensure they are on the correct course for all events.