The Kowalski Classic has become a fixture of the Australian Marathon racing calendar in a short period of time, and this 3rd iteration was won by Brendon Johnston with a strong solo attack from 50km out, and by Jenni King, who attacked her closest rival about 60km into the race. The course for the Kowalski […]
Archives for September 2014
Kowalski Classic race preview, tips and predictions
The Kowalski Classic is just three years old, but already attracts big numbers and top riders. Set in Kowen Forest near Canberra, the 100km and 50km marathons take in the finest trails built by the mysterious trail construction coven, the Kowalski Brothers. Your MarathonMTB team were out on course today to bring you the best tips […]
Perskindol Swiss Epic – Stage 4 – Grachen 75km
I keep getting all ‘hero worship’ but heres todays chat, Matt to Karl Platt, ‘Hey Karl you doing the Munga?’ Karl to Matt ‘Yeah, it should be good but I’ve never done 24 hour racing before’, Kulhavy to Sauser ‘Hey Susie we go from the gun yeah?’ *nervous laughter from those in earshot* Sauser to […]
Perskindol Swiss Epic – Stage 3 – Leukerbad to Grächen 68km
3 days done, that’s the halfway point and we are on the run in now… except when its 3 days with elevation profiles that look like sharks teeth! On paper it was only 61km to Grächen, but within that it contained 3000m of climbing. How is that even possible?! On a road bike back home […]
Perskindol Swiss Epic – Stage 2 – Leukerbad to Leukerbad 70km
Well after yesterdays horror and semi-terminal implosion in the final 5km today was all about survival and pacing, no real tactics just get to the end respectably! Hard to do when you get sucked along in the vortex that is the mad UCI peloton but this faded the minute we hit the climb and my […]
20th Croc Trophy to Skybury Plantation
The 20th Crocodile Trophy starts in just one month, and there has been a late change to a stage start/finish for the tail end of the race. While it has already been announced that the Croc will finish in Port Douglas, the resort north of Cairns, the stage locations have become just a little bit […]
Perskindol Swiss Epic – Verbier to Leukerbad, 95km Stage 1
Stage 1. Queen stage. 95km, 3050m climbing. BOOM! That was one tough day in the saddle. Around the start line it was pretty surreal, lining up in the same starting box as the people I have been watching on TV for years – even as the race started I stuck with them until it got […]
Perskindol Swiss Epic – Verbier to Verbier 16km Prologue
You can’t imagine any time trial near this Swiss town will be anything other than challenging. Verbier sits looking over a stunning valley at around 1600m, surrounded by 2000m plus ski runs that during the summer act as a magnet to any mountain biker who likes to keep things punchy. The climbs are tough, the […]
Perskindol Swiss Epic nerves
I’m a bit of a delicate flower, I look for a good bed, some good food and a warm shower when planning the next mtb adventure. You can call me soft but I’m just admitting that even Mr I-prefer-a-duvet wasn’t prepared for what waited for us in Verbier! Oh man! The Perskindol Swiss Epic is in […]
Competitive field for inaugural Swiss Epic
Consider the standard of racing among the Swiss riders, who dominate top flight XC plus the number of well known Marathon events in the country, including the Grand Raid, and it is very surprising that there has not been a major MTB Stage Race in Switzerland before. Today, as riders from around the World came […]