Leg #3  Freshwater Lagoon Mountain Bike Ride - the other direction!
Approximate distance: 24 km.
Estimated time: 45 min to 1hr 50 mins.
Map: Coles Bay 6033 and 6034 walk map, 1: 250,000.

Course Description

Competitors head out from the ATV area up and over Telstra Hill following the bunting and arrows, down the other side and turning right onto the Weir (Freshwater Lagoon) Road. Follow the track to the Freshwater Lagoon at the southern end of the Friendly Beaches. (Reverse of Day 1 mtb ride). Riders will need to be wary of the very large water bars, otherwise known as spoon drains, that have been built into the track in various locations. Particularly on the steep sections toward Freshwater Lagoon.

At the southern end of the Lagoon competitors turn LEFT through the gate and follow the track as it proceeds along the side of the Lagoon and after approximately 1km it turns inland, starts climbing, and then south again. There is one steep downhill and rutted/washedout section of track after the longish climb where competitors must exercise caution, and if not confident, may need to consider dismounting. The course continues south to a junction north of the sewage treatment pond*. At this point it turns LEFT and competitors follow the marked course back to the ATV site/Information Bay area where cyclists will be handed a 5 minute time-out card, to dismount, and proceed (leisurely!) across the road junction following instructions from SES traffic marshals, to transition to run in the Village Green public recreation space opposite the Coles Bay Bakery.

*(Private land access restricted to race day only)

Note: Coles Bay is noted for its granite gravel and this can be a slippery surface to MTB on. Be particularly cautious on off-camber corners - usually the cause in past years of any crashes!

Support Crew Information and Parking
Support crew will not be able to follow competitors on this section of the course. For the MTB transition, please avoid parking along the main road, and park along the Esplanade area, and in the Muirs Beach carpark.