Sydney Swans star Ryan O'Keefe took part in Peaks Challenge 2024 and loved it. We sat down with him to hear about the highs, the lows, and his advice for those riding next year's event.
Bicycle Network: Tell us about your history with Peaks Challenge.
Ryan O'Keefe: Peaks has been one of the premier cycling events for a long time, not just in Australia but around the world. It's one of those bucket-list items! I did it last year and it's an exciting event to be a part of, there's a really positive energy, it's run so well and of course it takes place in some of the best riding locations in Australia. I think once you do it once you think oh, I want to come back and see if I can do a better time next year... It's quite addictive once you get involved.
BN: What was your personal highlight?
ROK: Nothing beats crossing the finish line! When you're sit around the finish area afterwards, everybody's got their own war stories. There's a sense of community: everyone who comes across that finish line has achieved something and they've all put a lot of time and effort into it. It doesn't matter if you've done it in under eight hours or in 12 hours, everybody's in the same boat and has been on a journey to get to where they are. That camaraderie is great.
BN: Any particular challenges?
ROK: Last year going into it, I had surgery two weeks before because of a crash at another race. So I probably didn't come in as prepared as I wanted to, but it was about doing what I could at the time. Getting through that was a challenge but really worthwhile.
BN: Do you have any advice for those preparing for their first Peaks Challenge next year?
ROK: I hope you've started training for it! Make sure you're doing the kilometres, doing the climbing and taking care of your nutrition. But I'd say also don't put too much pressure or expectations on yourself. It's not about racing and beating everyone else, it's about doing the best you can and setting a challenge for yourself.
It's also a great idea to get involved with the Ride2School fundraiser, which raises money for programs to get more kids riding in Australia. Remember when we were kids? We rode to school and loved it. To see not many kids riding bikes around these days is quite sad.
Fundraising for Ride2School can help provide safer routes to schools and encourage not just kids but everyone in the community to ride their bikes. Australia is really car-centric and intolerant to other modes of transport, but I think the more people ride, the safer it is, it creates a healthier society and takes the pressure off our healthcare system, which is struggling with a huge rise in chronic disease and obesity.
I think if we can get kids riding early and they fall in love with it, they're going to be bike riders for the rest of their life. That's pretty special.
Details about Peaks x Ride2School fundraiser are available here. It's easy to get started: just head to https://ride2schoolfund.raiselysite.com/ to set up a fundraising campaign as an individual or a team!
Those who fundraise $250 will receive a short-sleeved Peaks Legends jersey for free. Those who fundraise $500 will receive a short-sleeved Peaks Legends jersey and a pair of knicks, while those who fundraise $750 or more will receive a long-sleeved Peaks Legends jersey as well as the short-sleeved jersey and knicks.
Want to wear your Peaks Legends kit on the day next year? Meet your fundraising target by 5 January 2026 to meet our mailing cut-off date.
Keen to support Ride2School this festive season but not taking part in Peaks Challenge 2026? A donation of any size to the Ride2School x Peaks Challenge fundraiser makes a fantastic Christmas gift with real impact. You can contribute here.
Ryan O'Keefe during the 2009 AFL season.
Photo credit: Steve Baty from Sydney, Australia; https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=99461681; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en
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