It seems like the 2011 season of Mountain Bike Marathons and Stage Races has barely come to a close – but most racers need to be ready to plan their 2012 season and get their race entries secured.
Australian race promoter Maximum Adventure have confirmed the dates for two of their biggest events. In Victoria, the Wombat 100 will be returning to the Wombat State Forest. Racing from Cammeray Waters to Woodend, the course is half singletrack and no tarmac. Being only an hours drive from Melbourne, and just 40 minutes from Tullamarine, it will suit locals and racers from interstate alike.
Interstate? The Wombat 100 will be the first Mountain Bike Marathon outside of New South Wales to be part of the Real Insurance XCM Series. With overall ranking points and big prize money on offer, the Wombat 100 will be worth the trip. The race will be on 22nd April, and entries open on 1st December at 9am AEST.
One of the longer running Mountain Bike Marathons in Australia has taken a new name for 2012 – The Convict 100. This will also form part of the succesful Real Insurance XCM Series. What else is new? The race day has moved from a Sunday to the Saturday, so lock Saturday 5th of May into your race schedule. What remains?
The first 10 kilometres of fast dirt and back roads.
The decisive climb up the escarpment.
The infamous Convict Trail, the canoe bridge, and the never ending climb back out of the valley.
However moving to a Saturday means racers and their families can kick back in St Albans, instead of joining the queue for the car ferry to get back to the Rat Race. Entries are capped at 750 riders for the 100km event. This sells out – fast. Just like for the Wombat 100, entries open 1st December at 9am AEST.
Go the the Maximum Adventure website for entries, or CycleNation to find out more about the Real Insurance XCM Series.
As always, Subaru-MarathonMTB.com Racers will be in attendance to bring you the details of how the race played out.