One of the UK’s best enduro events takes place this weekend, and there’s still time to enter! The Ritchey Bikefest powered by Mercedes Benz Vito Sport is a great race round the singletrack-heavy course at Ashton Court near Bristol. And now that it’s only a few days away, it seems apparent that the event is […]
Ritchey Bristol Bikefest – only six weeks to go
The Ritchey Bristol Bikefest (8-9 June) is one of the most popular and longest-standing enduro MTB events in the UK, and with good reason. The course, round Ashton Court near Bristol, involves lots of enjoyable singletrack, and there’s a good relaxed atmosphere in the race village. As always with these events, the riders and riding […]
Quebrantahuesos MTB – Stu’s adventures continue
Subaru-MarathonMTB.com racer Stu Spies made the journey out to the second European round of the 2013 UCI marathon series, the Quebrantahuesos MTB, in northern Spain. Here’s how the adventure unfolded. Lets start with few handy race tips, you must know many but here are some refreshers: Race tip #4001: Pay the extra for legroom on […]
The Euro adventure continues – it’s Quebrantahuesos time
Subaru-MarathonMTB.com racer Stuart Spies is heading out to the Spanish round of the UCI Marathon series this weekend – the Quebrantahuesos – here’s his take on the build-up: This is going to be tough! As I fumble my way through another working week and the separations between life, passion and productivity seem to boil over and crash […]
First Schwalbe MTB Marathon of 2013 – just days to go!
The SCHWALBE MTB Marathon & Sportive Series 2013 powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport is about to start, with the first event this weekend at Builth Wells. The Riding Course designer John Lloyd has been super busy over the last few weeks and months (not shying away from lots of rides in the snow either) and […]
Reviewing the 2013 Absa Cape Epic
Related Event: ABSA Cape Epic
Sauser. Kulhavy. Well Sauser’s here every year, and Kulhavy was here particularly to pay respects to Burry Stander. Brentjens, Frischknecht, Boelts, Platt, Dietsch, Huber, Mennen, Lakata. Well, this kind of racing is what they do these days. But what about Schurter, Vogel, Fumic, Fontana, Hermida, Van Houts, Paulissen? It starts to read like a who’s […]
Absa Cape 2013 Stage 6 – the last big challenge
Today’s penultimate stage of the Absa Cape Epic was a real test for the riders; the title of Queen stage went to Tuesday’s 146k, but today’s 99k had the most climbing, at 2,950m. And that number was made tougher by the fact that a good deal of the climbing was in the last portion of […]
Absa Cape Epic 2013 Stage 3 – ‘easy’ day
Related Event: ABSA Cape Epic
When a 94k stage with almost 2,000m of climbing is described as a ‘rest’ or ‘easy’ day, you know something odd is going on. But that’s the Absa Cape Epic for you; it doesn’t really play by normal rules. And it’s certainly true that after Monday’s 96k sandfest and yesterday’s loooong 146k day, maybe today […]
Absa Cape Epic 2013 Stage 2 – The Queen
Related Event: ABSA Cape Epic
Today was the Queen stage at the Absa Cape Epic for 2013. A mere 146km from Citrusdal to Saronsberg wine estate in Tulbagh, with 2350m of climbing. It was billed as something of a ‘roadie’ stage; and indeed there was a decent amount of tar and dirt road. Despite the length, this was almost certainly […]
Absa Cape Epic 2013 – pro rider press conference
Related Event: ABSA Cape Epic
With just two days to go until the 10th Absa Cape Epic starts, the top professional riders were gathered in Cape Town to be presented to the world’s mountain biking media. And the collection of riders was highly impressive. With a mix of new Cape Epic riders, World Champions, Olympic medallists, and race veterans, one […]