If you know the course, WTF Corner needs no introduction. It will hurt. Alot. The warm up is the ever enchanting road out of Omeo. Even as the mercury rocketed north, it has much to distract you from the pain in your legs. It’s a flowing road of corner followed by corner, virtually flat and almost devoid of traffic or any sign of human habitation. You are really out on your own - don’t bother checking for mobile reception. Once you are through the only settlement, Angler’s Rest, all that will occupy your mind is WTF Corner.
It punches brutally to 20% as soon as you turn onto it, relents briefly for 50m, before delivering a constant dose of Pain Lane for the next 5km. I was on my own by this point and was grateful for my 32 cassette on the back which, while not exactly had me spinning up the climb, allowed me to stay seated all the way up. Fortunately the sun had taken a break behind a build up of cloud, so the temperature was never too hot. Once you roll past the 6km mark, there are a few more ramps that will have you grovelling for your lowest gear before the hill releases its grip somewhat and you pass through Trapyard Gap - the worst of the day is over. With a rising wind, I even felt a little chilly in my sweat encrusted state. I hadn’t expect that on the Alpine Classic!
The Pennine like gradients may have been over but its was still another 15km of rising roads to the Bogong High Plains, a truly stunning piece of road, often windswept but pleasantly cool after the heat of the valley. By now, the wind had pretty much dropped out and it was beautiful and easy riding, crunching along the unique white quartz road surface that will make short work of any suspect tyre.