Leg 4 - Mountain Bike 9 km

The first mountain bike course is by far the most technically demanding leg of the whole event. Only experienced and proficient mountain bikers should attempt this course. It is strongly advised that athletes familiarise themselves with the course prior to the race. Please note that cyclists MUST carry their own water or other replacement fluid.

Although 9 kilometres does not sound a long way on a bike, the majority of the course is on narrow single tracks, for the most part over steep and rocky terrain. This leg is not for the faint-hearted, the inexperienced or the untrained.

The course commences at the transition area in the vacant lot just off Rainbow Dr before Alpensee Weg, Look for the single track heading into a large dip and proceed along this track into the bush.

Follow this new track mostly up and also down. Turn left at the first main junction, heading up hill. This becomes the "Prink Trail" which leads through several wide switch backs up the hill. Turn right onto the "Link Rd" which brings you up to a 4WD track which leads to the top of the hill. Cross over this track and head straight onto the single track on the other side, named "Knights in Shining Armour," then take the next fork to your left onto "Huff 'n Puff."

This track starts to switchback downhill, with the main bitumen road (Kosciuszko Rd) below you. Your track almost joins a larger 4WD track heading downhill, but switches back again one metre before joining it and continues through a series of broad switchbacks heading down.

You are now below the level of Kosciuszko Rd. Look out for snakes! Turn right at the next fork, and continue following a gully on your left, still heading down. Then turn left into a 4WD track, and right again to continue onto the single track, heading uphill again before a long, winding descent.

The final 100 metres down to Mill Inlet is 2-way traffic, so be alert for bikes coming towards you.

From Mill Inlet, continue up the 4WD track. Turn right onto a single track heading up onto the ridge just before you reach Kosciuszko Rd. Coming off this ridge, turn right and start to loop back around towards the lake. You are now on the return leg of your journey.

Turn left at the next fork onto "She'll be Apples," which eventually becomes "Felicity." This track then endures a steep, rocky climb to the top of Mill Hill. The power lines at the top mark the beginning of a spectacular descent, with great views across the lake to Jindabyne, all the way around and down to Mill Inlet.

At Mill Inlet, turn to your left to rejoin the 2-way traffic, though this time you are heading up and the cyclists coming towards you are coming downhill.

Just before the top of a sharp rise, veer left onto a single track "Orbital Huff 'n Puff." Take the right hand option at the next fork, continuing to climb, then take the left fork onto "Bunty's North." Cross over one rough 4WD track, under some power lines, and continue around the flank of the ridge with the town directly on your left.

Your single track heads up one last punishing series of switchbacks till you crest a grassy ridge with the panorama of the whole lake before you. Do not take the 4WD track in front of you, instead look for the single track veering off to your left heading into the final few kilometres - a well-earned downhill run home. Do not take the left hand fork which is namesd "Orbital", instead keep to the riight. There is one fork a few hundred metres from the finish, where you will take the right hand option. Take care coming into the big ditch leading into the transition!

For detailed course descriptions and maps of other legs, select from the list below.