This year the XCM Championship race, sponsored by Subaru, was organised in the beautiful Atherton Tablelands just inland of Cairns in North Queensland. Atherton boasts some amazing single trails that are IMBA designed and built, link this with some firetrail climbs and tropical creek crossings and you have the 33km, 1200hm, loop that constituted one […]
Archives for April 2013
English and King win Subaru Australian XCM National Championships
On 21st April, the 2013 Subaru Australian XCM Championships were raced in Atherton, Queensland. On a mixture of new single track, well established trails, double track and dirt road, the 32 lap took in close to 1100m of climbing. Many of Australia’s best Marathon and Cross Country racers turned up to aim for the green […]
Previewing the Subaru Australian XCM Championships
Tomorrow, Australia’s new Cross Country Marathon (XCM) Champions will be crowned. This year, the Championship race for Australia’s best attended mountain bike format is being held in Atherton, Far North Queensland. With a hard, selective course set, there is a lot of talk about who will excel, who should be here, and whether it is […]
Review: Bellwether Distance Jersey and Forma Bib Shorts
For a company that’s been around for 30 years, I must confess I knew little about Bellwether before drawing together the full-length zip on the Californian company’s Distance jersey. But after several weeks testing out their Distance top and Forma bib shorts I’m pleased to report it’s been a pleasant introduction. The company started life […]
UCI Rule 1.2.019 – for Marathon Racers
“No licence holder may participate in an event that has not been included on a national, continental or world calendar or that has not been recognised by a national federation, a continental confederation or the UCI. A national federation may grant special exceptions for races or particular events run in its own country.” Rule 1.2.019, […]
Mackay Mountain Marathon – XCM Racing in FNQ
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, […]
More tales from South Africa
When you think of MTB in South Africa you usually think about the Cape Epic, but that’s far from the only big stage race that’s run in that part of the world. This year I’ll be reporting for MarathonMTB.com from the Old Mutual JoBerg2c MTB stage race. The race is 910km over 9 days from […]
Charles Keey backs up from Cape Epic with MTN Tulbagh Victory
Related Event: ABSA Cape Epic
Three weeks after the ABSA Cape Epic, most racers will not be certain of what their bodies will be able to do. Australia’s Peta Mullens and Jarrod Moroni had great races at their ‘local’ Wombat 100 on April 14th, and many of South Africa’s Pro racers were at the MTN Tulbagh Ultra on the same day. Charles […]
XTERRA Great Ocean Road : Hit and Miss
When I think back about the races I have highly enjoyed and the reasons why, it has often been a combination of great personal race results, a great course, great location and great atmosphere. I love events where the whole community gets behind the race, where athletes and supporters from all-over dribble into town the […]
Women’s Wombat – Mullens victorious over team mate Thomas
The female start list heralded a strong women’s field with a rematch between 2012 winner Jenny Fay and her nemesis Peta Mullens the main attraction. Lurking in the shadows we have Rowena Fry, Tory Thomas and Melissa Ansett, all three strong technical riders and well suited to the Wombat 100 course. What was not anticipated […]