MS Sydney to the Gong: the route and how to prepare
- Distance
- 81.7 km
- Climbing
- 902 m
- Highest point
- 243 m
- Categorised climbs
- 8 · up to 12 %
- Shape
- Point to point
Measured on the course you ride in Cycloscape. The organiser's own figures are below.
Elevation profile
-3–243 m · 8 categorised climbsThe 6 biggest of 8 categorised climbs, in the order you ride them.
The MS Sydney to the Gong Ride is a charity ride for multiple sclerosis from Sydney to Wollongong: 80 km from Tempe, in Sydney's south, or 53 km from Engadine. Both routes ride through the Royal National Park, past the lookout at Stanwell Tops and over the Sea Cliff Bridge to the finish in Wollongong. The 2026 ride was on 1 November; the 2027 date has not been announced yet.
MS Sydney to the Gong at a glance
- Where
- Sydney – Wollongong, Australia
- Official website
- msgongride.org.au ↗
- Next edition
- Date to be confirmed by the organiser
- Routes
- 80 km from Tempe: 80 km · 53 km from Engadine: 53 km
- Terrain
- Rolling to flat
- Facts checked
- 4 November 2026, against the sources below
Full preparation and course training require Event Coach Pro.
Ride the real course on your trainer. The route of MS Sydney to the Gong, 82 km, as a 3D world, with your trainer following its gradients — any day, and as part of your Event Coach plan. Part of Cycloscape Pro.
The routes
The MS Sydney to the Gong Ride offers 2 routes.
| Route | Distance | Climbing |
|---|---|---|
| 80 km from Tempe | 80 km | — |
| 53 km from Engadine | 53 km | — |
What the course asks of you
The ride leaves the suburbs for the Royal National Park, where the road climbs and falls through the bush, then drops from Stanwell Tops to the coast and runs along the cliffs over the Sea Cliff Bridge. The hills come mostly in the first half.
It is a ride, not a race, ridden by thousands of people at their own pace. Practise climbing steadily, and the descent to the coast is your reward.
How to prepare
The general shape of a good preparation, which Event Coach turns into a plan for your fitness, time and date:
- Train steady power: efforts of 10 to 20 minutes just below your threshold teach you the pace you can hold over the rolling roads of the MS Sydney to the Gong Ride.
- Build the long ride towards 80 km, at a pace you could keep all day.
- Ride part of your training in a group: on rolling roads, staying in a wheel saves more energy than any other choice.
Pacing mistakes to avoid
The mistakes that cost riders the most on a day like this:
- Pushing every rise of the MS Sydney to the Gong Ride: on rolling roads, keep the effort steady and let the speed vary.
- Following the fastest wheels in the first kilometres, when everything feels easy.
- Drinking only when thirsty: a long rolling day dehydrates you before you notice.
Prepare the MS Sydney to the Gong Ride with Cycloscape
Tell Event Coach you are doing the MS Sydney to the Gong Ride, your route and what you want from the day, and it builds your preparation: structured workouts held by your trainer in ERG, Race Pacing for how to spend your effort, and Performance Lab to see whether the work is landing. Full preparation and course training require Event Coach Pro.
Frequently asked
When is the MS Sydney to the Gong Ride?
The organiser has not announced the next edition's date yet. Event Coach lets you set your own target date until it does.
How long are the routes of the MS Sydney to the Gong Ride?
80 km from Tempe: 80 km; 53 km from Engadine: 53 km. The 2026 routes as the organiser lists them.
How many riders take part?
About 7,000 riders a year, according to the organiser.
Do I have to raise money?
Fundraising is encouraged but not compulsory; the organiser suggests a minimum of $250.
Can I ride the course of the MS Sydney to the Gong Ride in Cycloscape?
Yes, inside Event Coach with Cycloscape Pro: once you start your preparation, the course is ridden on your trainer as part of the plan.