Australia Corkscrew Road
Corkscrew Road Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

7.7
PDI
3.1 mi
DISTANCE
1,204 ft
GAINED
7.3 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
MORE

INTRO


This is a Tour Down Under favorite and the steepest climb in the Tour when featured.  See also PJAMM's Top South Australia and Top Australia bike climbs pages.  

See key statistics for 2023 Tour Down under on PJAMM's 2023 Tour Down Under home page and TDU Stage 3 which features Corkscrew and  Norton Summit Roads. 

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See more details and tools regarding this climb's grade via our interactive Profile Tool.
Roadway:
The surface is smooth tarmac, 10/10.

Traffic: 
moderately light

Parking:
Roadside parking at the start of the climb
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Australia
Australia
24 ROUTES
41 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
443.9
mi
DISTANCE
64,453
ft
ELEV. GAIN
Australia: Adelaide
Australia
21 ROUTES
34 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
130.4
mi
DISTANCE
22,651
ft
ELEV. GAIN

NEARBY CLIMBS (0) RADIAL PROXIMITY

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CLIMB SUMMARY

bike and PJAMM Cycling Australia jersey lean against guardrail along roadside shrouded in eucalyptus trees

Cycling Corkscrew Road, Southern Australia

Ride 5 kilometers gaining 370 meters at 7.4% average grade.

Climb summary by PJAMM’s Brad Butterfield from his 2022 Australia Top Climbs and South Australia Top Climbs trip.

This is an extremely fun and popular Adelaide-area climb (69,852 Strava attempts by 14,847 members as of January 16, 2023) with a 500 meter stretch that averages 13%.  Corkscrew Road has been included in several Tour Down Under races which lends to its legend and popularity.

photo collage; road signs for Corkscrew Road; winding road signs, eucalyptus trees, PJAMM Cycling Australia jersey

Cadel Evans crushed the Corkscrew on stage 3 of the 2014 Tour Down Under, gaining 15 seconds on Richie Porte.  Evans came in second that year behind Simon Gerrans, another extraordinary Australian cyclist.

The Strava record for Corkscrew is 6:21 by George Bennett (UAE) January 18, 2019 at 427 watts.

Climb summary by PJAMM Cycling’s Brad Buttterfield.

The crem de la crem of Adelaide. My personal favorite of the dozen or so that I have done in Adelaide so far. This is the only climb which had a Tour Down Under Sign post at the bottom.

orange sign for Corkscrew Road, from Tour down Under

Climb begins just south of the intersection of Corkscrew and Churchette Roads.

On the day I rode I was passed (ya…I was going pretty slow…) by about a dozen or so other cyclists, and about twice that number of motorcyclists.

views along the climb, including lots of green trees and brush

The tight switchbacks make it feel as though you're riding the lower slopes of the Alpe d'Huez, and you may as well be. There are a few houses/farms towards the bottom section, but once you hit the switchbacks it’s just steep grades and thick vegetation.

hairpin turns

Set of four hairpins (corkscrew) for 300 meters (@10.9%) beginning at km 1.5.

thick vegetation along climb; roadway hidden behind tall trees

bike parked against guardrail at climb finish next to sign for 80 kph

Climb finish.