The Dirt Works 100km Classic is now less than one week away. Not only is it one of the longer running Mountain Bike Marathons in Australia, it is popular with Sydney-based competitive mountain bikers due to its proximity to Sydney, and consistent course. Now that is is part of the Real Insurance XCM Series Powered by CycleNation, the demand for entries to the race, and the size of the Elite field, has exploded.
On 1st May approximately 750 Marathon Mountain Bikers will take the start (in waves) at St Albans. Starting at 7am at this time of year challenges some. It is a cool start, and requires either sleeping ‘on location’ or getting out of bed at a time that some may class as Saturday night.
Looking over the start list, the Elite Mens field shows the usual protaganists at any big Australian Marathon. Shaun Lewis and Pete Hatton will still be running on the super form gained at the ABSA Cape Epic. Jason English is seemingly unstoppable, and give the technical nature of the middle of the course, the chance of him taking line honours is high. However riders such as Troy Glennan, Matt Fleming, James Downing and Anthony Shippard all have great chances of success. In the Elite Womens field, it is hard to look past Jenny Fay. The first climb can be decisive, in terms of getting a gap. Can Fay maintain this gap over rivals like Vanina Vergoz and Becky Mates?
The Dirt Works course can be described as fast, or brutal, or technical. It depends who you ask. Certainly, the start can be fast on the road out of St Albans. Things string out a bit as the race hooks into private property. Depending on the recent weather, positioning for the first climb is paramount. If it’s slippery, you don’t want to get stuck behind a flailing rider. If it’s not slippery, it’s probably loose. 2010 saw stunning conditions, with a fast surface. Recent rain suggests the climb may be eroded.
Over the top of the climb, chase hard to anyone in front. It is far too early to be stuck in No Mans Land. The next sections are fun and fast, but mostly comprise firetrail over rolling ridgelines. Once you take a right turn onto the Old Northern Road, the fun begins. Often double-track, and frequently singletrack, this section is consistently rocky or sandy. Some previous experience on the earlier parts of this section is useful but not necessary. There are no long climbs or descents, but the rolling ridgeline trail does require some technical climbing ability. This area is the xenith of the race. A good bike rider can really make a difference through here.
Descending to Clare’s Bridge, the climb out is straight forward, but an easy place to burnout. There’s more rocky trail to come, keep some explosiveness in reserve. After this next section, be alert on the gully descent. Many people have ended their race here. The canoe-bridge is well known. Personally, I have a bad track record. Last year I was so cross-eyed I had to walk it, previously in 2007 it was so sketchy I didn’t have the skills to get across!
Once over, hope for some reserves of strength. The next climb relents a little, but it backs off, it never flattens. The surface is frequently soft, and this drains the legs. Keep it together on the descent, power along the valley, through the river, and save something for the last pinch after the 90 degree right hander a couple of kilometres from the finish. Enjoy your beer – you have probably earnt it.
Remember to check back to MarathonMTB.com and the MarathonMTB.com Race Team website for race reports from Justin Morris, Graeme Arnott, Mike Blewitt and Sam Moorhouse once the Dirt Works 100km Classic has been run and won.
For further details on the Dirt Works 100km Classic, see the Maximum Adventure website.