The 2020 Herald Sun Tour route, which starts February 5 in Nagambie, Victoria, includes Falls Creek and Mount Buller.

As a result, race director Scott McGrory predicts that the 2020 men's 5-day race will be won by a "pure climber."

Indeed, the riders faced a very different route than the 2019 race, which was primarily set in the Mornington Peninsula and Gippsland region southeast of Melbourne, and on the final day, the Arthur's Seat climb decided the race, with Team Sky's Dylan van Baar winning the overall Dylan van Baar of Team Sky took the overall win.

However, fans will be pleased to know that next year's race will return the peloton to the true mountainous terrain of Victoria and will again include both Falls Creek and Mount Buller.

The opening stage for the men on February 5 is a 122-km downhill from Nagambie to Shepperton, two hours north of Melbourne.

Climbers will come to the fore in the second stage, a 118-km stage from Beechworth to the 1,535-meter elevation Falls Creek ski resort, with an elevation gain of 2,600 meters in the last 30 km. The final climb averages 4%, but there are some short sections of over 10%, which is long for the early season climbs for Europe-based pros.

The third stage from Bright to Wangaratta could perhaps be described as a mix of the two opening stages. However, the first half of the 178-km stage is undulating and flat all the way to the finish.

The fourth stage, dubbed the "Queen Stage," will see some of the race's best climbers show off their climbing prowess in their quest for a second summit finish in three days. It consists of two 50km laps from the start in Mansfield, two tough climbs up to Tolmie, and then a fast descent down the steep Old Tolmie Road.

But the real push, however, comes after the second lap to the east, Mount Buller, a 15-km climb averaging 6% and maxing out at 13%.

The race will come to a traditional finish the next day, February 9, on a sprinter-friendly course around Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens.

"It's great to have two of Victoria's most iconic mountains in the same race," race director McGrory told the Herald Sun on Friday.

"It's great to have two mountains representing Victoria in the same race," race director McGrory told the Herald Sun on Friday.

"It will be a race won by pure climbers, but there are plenty of opportunities for others.

The Women's Herald Sun Tour will also return in 2020, again as a two-day race.

An out-and-back route that begins with a descent of Falls Creek and heads northwest down to Tawonga, where riders will return for a 10km ascent before starting a 30km ascent to Mt. Buller.

Last year's champion Lucy Kennedy (Mitchelton Scott) will likely return to defend her title.