What is it about a series that inspires a rider to enter a collective of events with the view to achieve in both the individual event and the series overall?
IBig cheques, big names and big bottles of bubbly in 2012
The fields of XCO and DH have are veterans in series events showcasing on both a state and national forum. The riders are encouraged to race both the individual events and the series knowing that each event will be similar in quality but varied in location. In 2011 the Real Insurance Series powered by CycleNation bravely launched a Marathon Series requiring the co-operation of 4 separate race entities to unify into a series. Prize money was standardized across the events and an attractive sum allocated for the podium (men and women) of the series.
In 2011, the Real Insurance Series powered by CycleNation included the following events: Capital Punishment March 19, Dirtworks Classic 100km May 1, Husky 100km June 19 and Angry Doctor September 24. The Real Insurance Series has grown in popularity since its inception in 2011 and three years later it is joined by a second XCM series, The Maverick Marathon Series. These two series will work together to enhance the quality of competition across the XCM field and boost the attendance levels resulting in a heightened organisation and credibility to XCM events in Australia.
The Real Insurance Series 2014
The Real Insurance XCM Series is comprised of five individual Mountain Bike Marathon and Half Marathon events held across Australia. The series winner is determined based on a point scoring system using the ranking algorithms developed by CycleNation.
“The Series results will be determined by the sum of the points obtained from the best three series race results achieved by a rider.
- A rider may complete as many events as desired, but only their best three results will be included in the Series rankings and results.
- A rider completing fewer than three races will still be included in the rankings and results based on the points earned in the events completed by the rider
- Overall positions will be calculated separately for men and women, and the points allocated according to the rider’s position within his/her own gender group.
- Points will not be allocated separately for age group categories. The overall points earned will be used to rank riders in their respective age categories.
- In order to be ranked you have to register on the CycleNation website in order for the ranking system to include your results in the calculations.”
The events comprising the 2014 Real Insurance Series are:
- HIGH COUNTRY CLASSIC | 10 MARCH 2014: Bright, VIC
- 2014 AUSTRALIAN MARATHON MTB CHAMPIONSHIPS | 6 APRIL 2014: Mt Joyce, QLD
- WOMBAT 100 | 13 APRIL 2014: Woodend, VIC
- THE TABLELANDS CLASSIC | 25 APRIL 2014: Atherton, QLD
- CONVICT 100 | 3 MAY 2014: St Albans, NSW
The Maverick Marathon Series is in its inaugural year, a series designed under the following umbrella:
“The Maverick Marathon Series brings together four of Australia’s premier mountain bike marathons and presents a race series that captures the essence of mountain biking and encourages participation at all levels – from elite, through to weekend warriors and juniors; in Marathon and Half Marathon race distances.”
To be eligible for the Maverick Marathon Series you have to complete three of the four races, the first race in the series was Capital Punishment so you better get a leave application in for the Giant Otway Odyssey on the 27th April to qualify. The Maverick Marathon Series points system is a little different from the Real Insurance Series as it takes into account no only your place (overall and category) but also the time gap between you and the rider in front.
“The formula to calculate the point score consists of two components:
- Rank Score: A score based on your finishing position (1st, 2nd, 3rd etc)
- Time Score: A score based on your finishing time
Your point score consists of the addition of the above two components”
This system is designed to encourage you not only to place well but also to minimise the time gap between you and your category competitors (i.e. chase own the guy in front of you right to the end!). The rank score is fixed as a decreasing scale of numbers and the time score is a factor of your time and the time of your closest rivals (category winners time/riders time x 1000).
The events comprising the 2014 Maverick Marathon Series are:
- CAPITAL PUNISHMENT | 14 MARCH 2014: Canberra, ACT
- GIANT OTWAY ODYSSEY | 27 APRIL 2014: Forrest, VIC
- THE KOWALSKI CLASSIC | 21 SEPTEMBER 2014: Canberra, ACT
- THE CAMELBAK HIGHLAND FLING| 9 NOVEMBER 2014: Bundanoon, NSW
Resplendent in her Irish National XCM Champion kit, Fay won the Capital Punishment, again, in 2014.
If you have missed the first race in either series it is not to late to qualify as you only have to attend three of the four/five events to be series eligible.
Tomorrow the second race in the Real Insurance Series will kick off at Mt Joyce, doubling as the National XCM Championships with a killer line up in both the mens and womens field. The second race in the Maverick Marathon Series will be down in Victoria, the notorious Giant Otway Odyssey on the 27th April.
So if you have an inkling to be a part of a bigger race picture and the thought of committing to three Marathon events is an appealing motivational tool you better get your A into G and enter!