In 2019, the Dragon Trail MTB Stage Race launched and it was well-received. The event team mapped out a 3 day point-to-point route leading from Derby, to Weldborough, down the Bay of Fires Trail and to St Helens. It was a veritable tick list of must-ride trails in one of the world’s most popular mountain bike destinations, and the March 2020 event was set to be amazing! Alas, it wasn’t until 2021 that the inaugural event took place – but it was worth the wait.
Now coming into its third year, the popularity of Tasmania’s purpose-built mountain bike trails, along with the event’s good reputation means that riders from beyond Australia’s shores are lining up for the Dragon Trail in greater numbers. One such rider is Yuki Ikeda, who rides for the Topeak Ergon MTB Team and lives in Japan.
Yuki is a veteran of countless marathons and mountain bike stage races. From the Leadville 100, to Rumble in the Jungle, XCM World Championships, Mongolia Bike Challenge, the Crocodile Trophy – Yuki has done it. We caught up with Yuki to find out what has lead him to fly south for this unique mountain bike stage race.
MMTB: Yuki, you’ve made the decision to come and race the Dragon Trail in Tasmania – what attracted you to the event?
‘I had heard a lot about the race and how great the Tasmanian trails are. I just couldn’t pass it up after seeing all the amazing race highlight videos, photos and testimonials.’
‘I have always wanted to come to Tasmania and see the nature since I was a kid! I still remember how impressed I was by how beautiful Tasmania was when I saw a nature documentary about the island when I was in primary school.’
MMTB: As a three day stage race, the Dragon Trail is a lot shorter than some events you have participated in. Will that change how you race it?
‘Yes, it will. The days and stages are shorter than the events I am used to. It is only a few weeks before the race, but I plan to work on some high intensity intervals like training for XC. I also plan to ride harder than usual from the start, but not too hard to avoid hitting the wall early in the race. I will see how I feel on the first day and rethink my strategy from there.’
MMTB: This isn’t your first visit to Australia – what do you enjoy about coming here?
‘I experience something new every time I visit Australia. It will be my 3rd visit, but I haven’t seen almost anything yet because Australia has so much to offer! I am really looking forward to experiencing the culture, eating the local food, meeting new friends, and shredding the great trails!’
MMTB: What have you heard about the riding in Tasmania, what are you looking forward to?
‘I have heard that the trails are built by experienced professional trail builders and the quality is the best in the world. I can’t wait to ride them and feel the love from the trail builders!’
MMTB: What bike are you bringing to Tasmania? Will you make any changes to it for the Dragon Trail?
‘I plan to go with the setup I am used to for XC style stage racing.’
Canyon LUX CF SLX.
Group set: Shimano XTR/XT, 36t
Wheels: DT Swiss XRC 1200 Spline
Fork: FOX 32 Step-Cast Factory Remote
Rear Shock: FOX Float DPS Factory Remote
Tyres: Maxxis Ikon or Aspen
Seat Post: DT Swiss D232ONE
Grips: Ergon GA3
Saddle: Ergon SM Pro Men Team
We look forward to seeing Yuki on the trails in Tasmania – all the best for the final preparation Yuki!
