After a tough start to the year with a broken pelvis and 5 broken ribs, Subaru-MarathonMTB.com racer Justin Morris set his sights on the Simpson Desert Bike Challenge – winning the classic stage race across the desert while helping the event raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Now, Morris has set his sights on his next major challenge – the Mongolia Bike Challenge.
Morris in action in the Simpson Desert.
“I’ve wanted to do the Mongolia Bike Challenge since talking to Mike Blewitt in 2012 at the Crocodile Trophy. Long, arduous stage and marathon races appeal to me as they always seem to create quite a memorable story and experience.”
Mongolia has an allure, with unique scenery and challenging racing.
Having started racing mountain bikes while starting high school, and quickly taking up road cycling too, Morris has raced for a number of teams in Australia and the USA, including a long stint with team Type 1, which became Team Novo Nordisk. As a Type 1 diabetic, Morris is faced with daily challenges, especially in bike races. This is part of what drives him to compete in arduous events around the globe.
Justin Morris raced on the road professionally for Team Novo Nordisk.
“Dealing with Type1 diabetes gives me an extra challenge that my competitors on the start line usually do not have. Having raced for 17 years now I am more motivated than ever as I have seen the inspirational impact racing can have on other people living with these challenges.”
Morris has spent much of 2016 racing his mountain bike. When his pelvis wasn’t broken.
The Mongolia Bike Challenge will be a major goal for Morris, along side The Pioneer in New Zealand, plus the pre-eminent marathon events in Australia, and shorter stage races such as Port to Port north of his home town in Sydney.
“The Mongolia Bike Challenge has been on my radar for a long time now. The remoteness, spectacular scenery and arduous profile make this race a true spectacle. Spectacles always bring about the best stories. I am really looking forward to being in Mongolia and then sharing the story of racing there with the broader MTB and diabetes community.”
If you’re after more details on the Mongolia Bike Challenge, head to the event website.