The MTBA Marathon Championships are one of three Australian Championships conducted by the MTBA, and this year will be hosted by CORC on June 10th at Stromlo Forest Park in the ACT, just 10km from the City Centre. Stromlo Forest Park was established after the devastating 2003 Canberra Bushfires, gone is the iconic pine forest which hosted the very first 24 Hour Mountain Bike Races in Australia, replaced by a purpose built Mountain Bike Park. Stromlo Forest Park has an impressive history for such a young venue having hosted a round of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in 2008, the UCI Mountain Bike and Trails World Championships in 2009, the World Solo 24 Hour Championships in 2010, MTBA National Championships from 2007-2009, numerous National Series Rounds, and in October each year the Scott 24 Hour Race, a stalwart of Australian mountain biking. The Marathon Course at Stromlo will challenge riders of all abilities, however with some of the best single track the venue has to offer included it will be sure to put a smile on every riders face
Those who raced the Rocky Trail Entertainment MTB Cruise 100 may have had a great course preview. Photo: Rocky Trail Entertainment
The current proposed course for Marathon National Championships features some of Stromlo Forest Parks most iconic trails, and comprises a challenging yet enjoyable 42km lap which will be completed twice. The course will travel to the Northwest of the park and around the more western and less ridden part of the park predominately on fire road which should have riders on the rivet from the start gun, before returning to the eastern face of Mt Stromlo, up the punishing Heartbreaker, before a fast and furious decent down the Luge. The course has 65% fire track and double track and 35% single track which will make for some exciting racing. The course will offer approximately 2500m of climbing over the 80km. The course has been designed to converge on itself in several locations to rationalise feed zones. There will be a feed zone at the top of Mt Stromlo, and riders will pass by twice per lap, and a feed zone near the start finish.
Entries are available online at the MTBA Website.
The growing strength in Marathon racing in Australia should be reflected by a deep field at Mt Stromlo on the June long weekend. As is the trend in Marathon and Enduro racing, there will be a category for just about everyone. Including Juniors – which is an interesting step, seeing as MTBA’s sole focus for the development of XC based mountain biking is towards Olympic Distance.
Categories:
Full Marathon $122.00 (plus $20 day licence if non MTBA Member)
Male and Female – Open, Sport, Veteran, Masters, Super Masters, Ultra Masters
Half Marathon $82.00 (plus $20 day licence if non MTBA Member)
Male and Female – Open, Sport, Veteran, Masters, Super Masters, Ultra Masters
CORC will also hold a junior marathon for U17 and U15 male and female riders on Saturday June 9th at 1pm. Using a 25km segment of the Marathons Course. Details to be released soon.
$40 (plus $20 day licence if non MTBA Member)
Keep an eye out for more updates, including a course preview, and interviews with some likely protagonists on the day.