An opening day of rain transformed a technically easy stage into a black diamond challenge: pay attention or slide out! Each kilometer was loaded with speed scrubbing mud, pedaling downhill was often essential. Any extra bodily energy was used to maintain body heat, but extra energy was scarce. “This wasn’t in the brochure” one racer […]
Archives for July 2012
Cory Wallace wins Mongolia Bike Challenge opener
It was an epic start to the 2012 Mongolia Bike Challenge presented by Orbea as the skies opened and the downpour began. A front group quickly formed, keeping their exposure as they headed into the Mongolian countryside on what quickly became muddy double track. MBC 2012 – Stage One on Pinkbike Team Kona looked strong […]
MTB Challenge: Stage 4 and 5
Stage 4 A classic leg of the race that had us negotiate through hiking trails rife with astounding vistas. Great for those that have the ‘luxury’ to slow down and enjoy all this beauty. The better part of the peloton was better off to ride mindfully and to watch out for sudden surprises the track […]
JetBlack WSMTB 12 Hour to host Aussie 24H Solo World Champions
The JetBlack WSMTB 12 Hour will be run for the third time at the Dargle Farm property near Windsor on 11 August. Organisers Rocky Trail have again secured the exclusive venue and are expecting more than 500 mountain bikers at the start line. Two racers who have secured their spot at the start line already […]
MTB Challenge: Stage 2 and 3
Stage 2 It was a happy atmosphere on the main square of Kraliky. This and the warm temperatures, that aren’t really always true for the Bikechallenge, made for a great day. Soon Skovgaard and the BMC boys Horák and Vokrouhlík went and kept a high tempo. And knowing that the rest of the peloton isn’t […]
MTB Challenge: Prologue and Stage 1
The 2012 edition kicked off with a demanding uphill starting in the marvelous spa city of Kudowa Zdroj traversing the Table Mountains. It was mainly to score a good position for the first stage. The long lasting rainy period left its marks and traction was imperative. Odds are good that this edition of the Bikechallenge […]
Paluma Push 2012
Receiving invites to races is one of the best parts of being somewhat decent at racing a bike. Disenchanted with a cold and wet winter in south-east Queensland, the chance to race in the tropics was a welcome one. Paluma, 90km north-west of Townsville, hosts the annual Paluma Push mountain bike point-to-point Enduro. At 65km […]
Naomi’s Blog: Euro 2012, the wash-up
A four hour train trip from Riva Del Garda to Munich is the perfect opportunity to reflect on Europe 2012. That said, I have a strange feeling that I am not really sitting in my seat and I may get booted out any time around Bolzano but until then I have a window seat, no […]
The Salzkammergut Trophy 2012 wrap up
Related Event: Salzkammergut MTB Trophy
The 2012 Salzkammergut Trophy lived up to the race’s traditionally dramatic script, with the extreme 211km (7,000m) race being taken out by Czech Ondrej Fojtik. Early in the race it appeared the defending champion Wofgang Krenn from Lienz will be able to repeat his victory. After 80km, however, he called it a day due to […]
Contenders ready for 2012 Mongolia Bike Challenge
The 2012 Mongolia Bike Challenge presented by Orbea gets under way this Sunday, with the race running from July 28 to August 11. The event is an epic, 10-stage mountain bike race in the Land of Genghis Khan. It starts in the heart of the Mongolian capital, Ulaan Baator, and continues for 1400 kilometres to […]