I have ridden some tough mountain bike marathon events in Australia and overseas, the Marathon Challenge is one of few that left me crossing the finish line with nothing ‘good’ to say. When I crossed the finish line at Mount Avoca Winery yesterday I was completely speechless, profanities were all I could muster, apologies to the minors present. I was mentally and physically null and void and, I noticed, in good company as there were many strewn bodies consuming red wine in the grounds of the Mount Avoca Winery post race.
Unfortunately, today was the final finish line for the Marathon Challenge, a race deemed too hard by the Australian mountain biking majority. I see the closing of this race as a sad reflection on the direction of marathon mountain bike racing in Australia, especially when you consider the international attention notoriously tough races like ABSA Cape Epic and Craft Bike Trans Alp attract every year. These events are team events for safety reasons and each year 1200 riders vie for a position on the start line for what I can only describe as the equivalent of eight Marathon Challenges. Riders in the ACE and CBTA are both local and foreign with a broad spectrum of riding abilities but all united in their desire to conquer a personal challenge “the tougher the better”. In Australia, we are tending to shy away from the hard races, scared they may push us out of our comfort zone and force us to the brink of out ability. We gravitate toward the marathon races that make us feel good for having completed a marathon without scaring us too much. It is good to be scared, fear and the associated adrenaline remind us we are alive and we must make the most of living.
I have completed the Marathon Challenge only once as in previous years I have been committed to the ABSA Cape Epic. Would I do it again? Hell yes! but I am a little on the crazy side or normal….
Rohin Adams is the man behind Big Hill Events, a Melbourne based event company focusing on mountain bike events in Victoria. With the assistance of his Big Hill Events team he has spent several years restoring the trails of the Pyrenees Endurance Trail, the foundation for the Marathon Challenge. Rohins extended family man the feed stations at the event and I believe the reason riders are drawn to the Marathon Challenge is the “friendly family atmosphere” and the promise of a tough, no place to hide, 90km3200hm race. Unfortunately this could also be the reason riders avoid locking this event into their annual calendar.
This year the Marathon Challenge attracted approximately 100 riders, most were repeat offenders and all finished knowing they really had ridden 90km and climbed 3200hm. I lined up alongside only four female 90km riders, Amity Mc Swan and Jess Douglas included (interestingly all females at the start line qualify for the 40-49 age category, not that any of us would ever play the ‘age’ card). The race started in a brisk sub10C with a mass start of all categories (90km riders and 45km riders, male and female) at a very sociable 0800. This was the hardest start I have experienced for a while with the male elite riders driving relentlessly through the dirt-road corrugations toward the first climb. The bunch split as the altimeter started to climb and continued to climb toward 800m, the first climb was the perfect warm with a nice tempo gradient on dirt road. The top of the climb saw the women sorted as I lead them through the first of six very well equipped, extremely friendly feed stations.
The first 65km passed quickly with a pleasant combination of undulating single and double trail projecting a very false security for what lay ahead. The final 25km was designed, intentionally or not, to completely F*&CK with your mind and make all your muscles scream for mercy. This is the type of finish that depicts the, all to familiar, format of Dr Evil (course designer of the ABSA Cape Epic). I believe this is the section of the course that deters so many and for the rest offers a challenge they cannot resist.
I am not sure how to describe this section of trail in a public forum, needless to say there were several caution signs on descending tracks, some of which were subtitled with appropriate profanities, climbs of all descriptions similary verbally narrated with colourful language. In the closing kilometers, just when you thought you were descending toward home, the trail took a nasty upward turn or four (inappropriately named the three sisters, I swear there were four and a half of those bitches!). The final 5km are signed and much as you would like to be heading directly home, Rohin believes a scenic tour of the dam rim and vineyard are more appropriate. As I mentioned earlier in this report I crossed the line with ‘nothing good to say’, a win in the womens’ category and a new course record (5:39) never to be contended unless the mountain bike community decides to man-up and take on a new challenge.
The final finish line at the infamous Marathon Challenge. Photo by Big Hill Events
In the male elite Peter Kutschera (4:30) crossed the line ahead of John Groves shaving 3 minutes off Adrian Jacksons course record from last year.
For complete results check out: www.bighillevents.com.au
This is an event that lives up to its reputation; it is a nasty 90km course with a grueling and unrelenting 3200hm. The race briefing describes in detail all the danger spots on the course, the water bars that could send you to hospital, the rutted descents accentuated by the dry dusty terrain, the newly cut trails that desperately need a shower. Tears and profanities are expected and at every feed station there is a member of Rohins extended family cheering you on by name. This race has never been sugar coated but we need these races on our calendar to keep us honest. When the dust has settled we can return to our real lives of roses and puppies but for a day we race to remind ourselves how much we love the day to day.
Thanks to Big Hill Events for an amazing day racing, Subaru-MarathonMTB.com for their support and all the sponsors including Tourism Victoria, The Pyrenees Shire, Mt Avoca Winery, Blue Pyrenees Winery, Peerick Winery, Ground Effects, Degani Bakeries, Total Rush, Nemisis, Shimano, Sport Recovery, Endura and Fitzroy Revolutions. Thanks also to all the volunteers who have helped out over the years, including a special thanks to the Avoca Primary School, Kyneton 4wd Club, St. Arnaud Motorcycle Club, Ballarat District 4wd Club and the Avoca Golf Club (with their fantastic gourmet burgers).