What are the days between Christmas and New Years Eve for save for riding, holidays, great food and drink, and some time to relax? Reflection, it seems. I had close to 40 days of racing in 2014, less than some years, but more than many other years. But with two overseas trips, a lot of domestic travel, three stage races and two marathon series’ – a few events really stood out.
These are the ones that I enjoyed the most, or just really stood out as being quality events, in 2014. It doesn’t mean I did well, but they are races that I can wholeheartedly recommend.
Australian XCM Championships
While it’s not a race with a traditional location like just about every other marathon, the 2014 Champs at Mt Joyce, Queensland, were yet another example of MTBA delivering a very good course for a Championship event. The three laps of Mt Joyce had lots of climbing, heaps of sustained, technical descending, and was close to two airports, and accommodation. Mt Joyce is in the Scenic Rim area of South East Queensland, and recent rains had left the area green, the lake full, and the trails in great condition. Swell-Specialized owned the event, but it was good to see plenty of riders filling out the open categories as well. Hopefully, if MTBA keep delivering such good locations, and trails, for the Champs that participation will increase, and riders won’t be scared off by the “Championship” name. Derby in Tasmania could well be brilliant – but hopefully it is not just too far away, too expensive – and too cold.
Easter in the Alice
Alice Springs has had a mountain bike stage race in various forms for over 10 years. And why not have two? I have raced the ICME a couple of times in May, and love the riding and trails in the Red Centre – and the racing that develops in a centrally located stage race on great trails. The Easter in the Alice is a club level race that was low key, but the quality of trails and good vibes remained. The mix of a time trial, night stage, and two longer stages was perfect, and I finished the 3 days racing tired but not destroyed. It’s on again in 2015, and is the first round of the MTBA XCM Series. Interestingly, Rapid Ascent have re-thought their stage race and the Redback will take place in August – yet another great time to ride a bike in Alice Springs. Do one, do both. But don’t miss stage racing in the Red Centre.
There’s even a night stage…
Convict 100
The marathon in my backyard – but the Convict 100 is more than just ‘my local’. It has the type of terrain that I ride on when I go mountain biking from my back door, and it uses a route that goes somewhere, not threading around a small location more times than is fun. The race has plenty of detractors, as it hasn’t changed much in its 10 years: two big climbs, some rough double track and lots of fire trail. But a lot of that is also historical road – the Convict Road. Racing on trails of history is pretty cool.
But the Convict 100 also has one of the better event villages around, with a sprawling beer garden behind the pub at St Albans, right behind the finish line. There is plenty of camping, although other accommodation gets a little spread out. There’s even more than one race! There’s the race to the car ferry before dawn, the good car parking race, the toilet queue race, the coffee van race… but then many of those side events are at other races too. For 2015 the route has had a bit of a shake up, but I’d say it will still be one of my favourite of the year. It is certainly one of the main races I’m looking forward to.
The main break for the day: Shaun Lewis, Andy Blair, Cory Wallace and Adrian Jackson. Photo: Richie Tyler
Sudety MTB Challenge
2014 was my third visit to this stage race in Poland, and I had no regrets taking Imogen Smith, my new fiance, there for our second mixed stage race. The course was very similar to what I raced on in 2011 with Mt Zoom founder Ant White – but that is no bad thing! The Sudety MTB Challenge takes you along forest roads, border trails, and ancient walking paths throughout the Sudety Mountais on the Czech-Polish border. It’s wet, hilly, rocky, and takes you to places you just wouldn’t know to go as an outsider.
MTB CHALLENGE 2014 – FULL LENGTH MOVIE from BURGproduction.cz on Vimeo.
The racing is incredibly competitive, but with a brilliant friendly vibe. Those with strong legs and brilliant technical skills reign supreme. But like any race, it’s about the combination. Go as a self assured and self-proclaimed “trail rider” but without much fitness and you will be the odd one out complaining about the climbing and all the hills. That’s part of mountain biking, and especially part of endurance mountain bike stage racing. The course is changing a little for 2015, and the race has gained a day, now a prologue and six stages. It’s up there with Transalp as a race I would recommend for the complete package: racing, riding, travel, cultural and social experiences.
Crocodile Trophy
Just like the Sudety MTB Challenge, I’d done this one before. But it really is one of the toughest MTB stage races in the world, and with a UCI S1 ranking, I wanted to see what might change, and what might not, with the UCI overlords around. It was by far the best Crocodile Trophy I have ever done. My worst result, but the route, camp, food and logistics were the best yet. This must be one of the best ways for Australian mountain bikers to experience international racing without leaving Australia. Plus you get to race in a broad variety of terrain, and in all sorts of different styles: XCO, marathon, time trial – in jungle, dry scrub, open forest, on the beach. This was probably my best nine days of work this year.
There are lots of other notable mentions, like the Wombat 100, National Park Bike Marathon and Kowalski Classic. Plus of course the races I love but missed out on, like the Odyssey, Transalp, ICME… but there is always 2015.