The Four Hour Ride: Daylesford with Nationals Champions

If you are after a challenge and in for the long haul, this is the loop for you. Start at the Golden City Hotel and fuel up – trust them, you are going to need it! You’ll next be heading off to Buninyong to ride the famous Australian Road Nationals Cycling course – with a twist! They are taking you over the toughest part of the course, crest over the KOM when the winning move is always made, but you won’t be turning left and staying on course. The legs will burn even more as you continue to head all the way up Mount Buninyong, where you will get the best seat in the house to the views of Ballarat. Once you’ve caught your breath, you will be hitting quiet country roads, huge wind turbines and rolling hills, and before you know it, you’ll be in the heart of the Wombat State Forest. You’ll feel as though you could be riding anywhere in the world and be taken by the beautiful scenery. Not long to go and and Daylesford will be on the horizon, so it’s time to stop, refuel and put the feet up before a brutal last final hour. A fun descent out of Daylesford before heading straight back up again. You’ll take a left and enjoy more quiet farm roads before, you guessed it, more climbing! You’ll tackle Mollongghip Hill before heading back over the local favourite White Swan Reservoir and water tower climbs. If you can get yourself up over them, you are home and hosed! Then it’s straight through Ballarat and into Fika for their famous blueberry and white chocolate muffins and the best coffee in town. Distance: 120.76km Elevation: 1.716m Ride type: Road Start: Golden City Hotel