Cancellation of Peaks Challenge for 2023
Falls Creek Alpine Resort is disappointed to have to announce the cancellation of Peaks Challenge for 2023 due to the ongoing road closure between Falls Creek and Mount Beauty.
Since October 12th, 2022 an active landslide has closed the Bogong High Plains road, which leads to Falls Creek Alpine Resort.
Regrettably, along with a host of summer events, Falls Creek Resort and Bicycle Network, in consultation with the Department of Transport and Planning, as well as Major Road Projects Victoria, have made the decision to cancel the Peaks Challenge 2023.
Unfortunately, recent adverse weather in the Alpine region has caused additional landslips and has significantly impacted repair & stabilisation efforts. As a result, MRPV does not anticipate the road can be safely open to the public in time for the Peaks Challenge.
In making this decision, a raft of considerations were taken with respect to the length of time required to postpone works for the event preparation and hosting, as well as the disruption to mobilisation of resources at the landslip in view of the recent instability.
The decision is another blow for the Falls Creek community, who have experienced significant disruption to what was planned to be the resort’s busiest summer program on record.
The determination has been based on the need to minimise delays and to prioritise works at the landslip site, ensuring that Falls Creek Resort is open to all its winter visitors for the upcoming 2023 snow season.
After having hosted the Peaks Challenge annually since 2010 and surviving through bushfires and two years of COVID restrictions, the landslip has this year defeated all entrants!
The resort looks forward to hosting all riders, their families and the Bicycle Network team in 2024.
Please continue to monitor the Falls Creek website and social channels for further resort announcements, especially the release of resort entry ‘Early Bird’ passes in the coming weeks.
Stuart Smythe, CEO, said “Falls Creek has hosted this event continuously since 2010, through bushfires and pandemics, so to have the event cancelled by a road closure is disappointing for all the riders and the sacrifices they’ve made to train, our community and business operators who look forward to this annual event and for Bicycle Network who host the premier road cycling event in the North East. We look forward to the event returning in 2024 and the upcoming snow season.
Rebecca Lane, Bicycle Network, General Manager – Operations and Marketing said, “We’re devastated to confirm that Peaks Challenge Falls Creek 2023 will no longer be able to proceed on Sunday 12th March 2023…
We recognise this is a significant blow to you all – we know the commitment it takes for you to train & prepare for this event & want to take this opportunity to thank you for sticking with us…
In addition to the heartbreak we are all feeling, we’d also like to recognise the extended implications this has for the local Falls Creek community. Peaks Challenge was set to provide a desperately needed economic boost for them & serve as a major milestone in their recovery efforts. However, they now face extended uncertainty around access to their community. We ask that you keep this in mind when contacting them regarding your accommodation & please be patient, as it may take them a little longer than normal to respond to all enquiries.”
Please find the full media statement from Bicycle Network with the following link.
www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/rides-and-events/peaks-challenge/event-info/