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MITCHELTON STAGE 1 – NAGAMBIE TO SHEPPARTON
Wednesday, 5 February 2020
Flat open roads – a day for the sprinters
Approximate Distance: 121.9km / Approximate Elevation Gain: 400m
Via Murchison, Tatura, Mooroopna
With barely a hill in sight as far as the eye can see in this part of Victoria and featuring a mix of wide and narrow roads through the open farmland of the Goulburn Valley this stage will be one for the sprinters. However, if the wind is up, it certainly has the potential to wreak havoc on the peloton and create some time gaps from the outset of the tour.
THULE STAGE 2 – BEECHWORTH TO FALLS CREEK
Thursday, 6 February 2020
The first of two big mountain top finishes
Approximate Distance: 117.6km / Approximate Elevation Gain: 2600m
Via Stanley, Dederang, Tawonga, Mt Beauty
A mountain top finish to one of Victoria’s ski resorts, this will be the first big GC shake up. A small climb straight from the start will get the legs going however it won’t be an overly hard stage until the final climb up to Falls Creek, over 30km with 1160m of elevation. With a 3.9% average gradient, and several downhill sections, the riders will find some reprise along the climb, however the undulations may make finding a good rhythm difficult and will test rider’s endurance over the 30km length.
BRIGHT VELO STAGE 3 – BRIGHT TO WANGARATTA
Friday, 7 February 2020
A tough start but flat fast finish
Approximate Distance: 178.1km / Approximate Elevation Gain: 1600m
Via Tawonga, Myrtleford, Milawa
Starting at the foothills of the Victorian alpine region, some rather tough climbing is required to get out towards Wangaratta. Two prominent climbs feature in the first half of the race with the potential to split the peloton up, however an almost downhill run for the second half of the stage will give the sprinters a chance to get back in the mix and prepare for the flat finish into Wangaratta
OPTUS STAGE 4 – MANSFIELD TO MT BULLER
Saturday, 8 February 2020
The queen stage of the tour
Approximate Distance: 106.6km / Approximate Elevation Gain: 2300m
Via Merrijig
Featuring the second mountain top finish of the 2020 tour, at another of the Victorian ski resorts, this penultimate stage will be sure to decide the overall tour winner.
An early climb, although small in comparison of what is to come, will keep the riders in check in what is otherwise a flat affair to the base of the Mt Buller climb. At 15kms with 940m of elevation, featuring pinches of up to 13% and an average gradient of 5.9%, this climb will set the stage for an epic battle of the climbers on the final climb of the tour.
GUMBUYA WORLD STAGE 5 – MELBOURNE CIRCUIT
Sunday, 9 February 2020
Returning to this fast circuit with a short climb each lap to test the riders
Approximate Distance: 89.1km / Approximate Elevation Gain: 700m
4.05km x 22 laps
The final stage returns to the heart of Melbourne on this fast 4km circuit. This spectacular circuit returns after its inaugural use in 2019 and again will be a spectacle for riders and fans alike, with the short circuit stretching around Melbourne’s famed Royal Botanic Gardens, along the edge of the Yarra River, and up the short but tough Anderson St climb.</p