Far North Queensland (FNQ) is no stranger to mountain bike racing. In 1995, Cairns hosted a World Cup there, which served as a stepping stone for the 1996 World Championships at Smithfield. On trails deisgned by Glen Jacobs (now World Trail), the worlds best mountain bikers stopped and took notice. The riding here was great, and the trails were amazing. Many racers remarked that the courses on offer were the best they had raced on. Some even said they were exactly what they would design themselves.
The Crocodile Trophy has also made FNQ it’s home, with a now typical start in Cairns before climbing over the Great Dividing Range, and finishing in Cooktown some nine days later. In 2012, the ‘Croc’ also featured the World Trail singletrack network at Smithfield, which caught out some of the road riders, put smiles on Australian faces, and frustrated the tandem riders and e-bike category contenders.
With the 2013 Subaru Australian XCM Championships taking place in Atherton, FNQ is again in the spotlight for Australian mountain bike racing. More than this though, there are other great races like the RRR near Cairns and the Paluma Push in Townsville.
Evan Corry lead the Corry Cycles-RUOK Team at the Crocodile Trophy in 2012. More than this, he has been working on a variety of Marathon courses in Mackay. The inaugural Mackay Mountain Marathon is set for August 3rd 2013. There will be three courses on offer:
Recreational 15km
The Mackay Mountain Marathon Recreational course is 15km, but takes in some great terrain.
Sport 30km
The 30km (actually close to 35km) Sport Course at the Mackay Mountain Marathon still enjoys a great climb and a long descent.
Marathon 80km
The Mackay Mountain Marathon 80km course involves brutal climbs, great descents and plenty of single track.
All races utilise the same start and finish area, which eases logistical planning for families or groups attending. The courses take in the climbs and the rainforest that are typical of the region. The track consists of a combination of fire roads, bitumen, winding single track, creek crossings, and amazing views of the pioneer valley. The conditions along the courses will be varied, from lush rainforest, to arid bush land, you will need to be prepared for all conditions. With enough altitude gain in the main Marathon event, the Mackay Mountain Marathon will declare a deserving winner. To help the speed, the fastest rider will also win $2000.
Entries are open, and they include a free event jersey. Visit the event website for a full run down on what this great looking new race has to offer.