Last week, Mountain Bike Australia (MTBA) published the list of 7 riders who have been selected to represent Australia at the 2018 Cross-Country Marathon (XCM) World Championships in Auronzo di Cadore, Italy, on 15th September.
All the emozioni at 3Epic
The women’s team is made up of three of Australia’s best mountain bikers. 2018 National XCM Champion Anna Beck will be looking to best her 28th place at the XCM World Championships in 2016, and MarathonMTB.Com Team rider Imogen Smith will certainly be looking for a top result to match her 20th place in Laissac.
Anna Beck charging towards a green and gold jersey.
“The 2018 XCM World Champs are something I have been working towards since the last XCM World Champs I attended in Laissac in 2016” said Smith. ”
20th in the World from the back line – I set a goal and worked towards it.
“I think this is a really interesting course, it’s a pure, classic European Marathon and that is the kind of racing I really have a passion for. The course will take us up into the high mountains and over terrain that will challenge the very best in the world. I’m so proud to be a part of it and I wouldn’t be able to do this without all of our sponsors and supporters. This is a really special opportunity for me, and I can’t wait to represent Australia in Italy.”
Holly racing to victory at Port to Port in May 2018.
Holly Harris will race XCM World Championships for the first time. Having placed 2nd at the Australian XCM Championships, and now riding under the tutelage of the one and only Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesja, we’re excited to see how Holly performs.
Seb in action at the Dolomiti Superbike.
In the men’s team, Sebastian Jayne will race his first XCM World Championships, as will the highly accomplished XCO racer Dan McConnell.
Dan McConnell has mixed it up in plenty of races. Photo: Russ Baker
Seb and Dan will be joined by Ben May (3rd in Elite men at the 2017 Crocodile Trophy) and Italian-based Australian Morgan Pilley. Only Morgan has pulled on the green and gold at XCM Championships before – but Dan and Seb are no strangers to racing with their nation’s colours on their back.
The course for the XCM World Championships is different for men and women, as the UCI aims to have a similar race finishing time. Men will race 102km with 4200m of climbing, and women will race 89km with 3400m of climbing. Neither will be an easy day out.
We’ll be there covering the racing, and bringing a course preview specific for the World Champs. Stay tuned!
Past years also suggest racers should prepare for wet weather…