Matt and Milton Ramos tackle the first stage of the Spanish race, featuring 1,997m of climbing over its 78km course. Starting in the same location as the prologue in the centre of Cordoba as the start of the prologue today was thankfully more appropriate, although it was still crazy. Four kilometres of roads leading us out […]
Matt Page’s Andalucia Bike Race, Prologue
The following diary entry has been provided by Wiggle athlete Matt Page. Matt is racing the Andalucia Bike Race with Milton Ramos. Arriving at the start area for about 10am you really couldn’t fault the race organisation. Riders had been seeded (unsure how, as it can’t have been UCI points) with 25 pairs per “box”. […]
‘Hou bene hou!’ (Hold legs hold)
There is nothing quite like the Cape wine region to add something special to proceedings, equally, as many Epic riders will soon find out, is the enjoyment and lift you get from the local communities of the Cape coming out to yell their support as you battle through what for me was a total triumph […]
Justin Morris: Mates, miles and the new menu at Starbucks
Former MarathonMTB.com rider and now Team Type 1 Professional Justin Morris checks in with his typically irreverent assessment of life since his recent return to the United States of America. G’day Y’all, I am writing from the gorgeous South Carolinian town of Greenville this time, a far cry from Ballarat at lost posting. Arriving in the USA […]
From Marathons to Stage Racing – Mount Buller
After a spectacular Kona Odyssey which now tops the ranks as my favourite marathon, I am spending the next three weeks in anticipation of my first stage race, Bike Buller. As far as providing the best possible introduction to stage racing, the guys at Rapid Ascent have thought it through well. Many stage races across […]
Kona Otway Odyssey: Naomi’s tale
The Kona Otway Odyssey is reputed to be the ‘toughest’ 100km mountain bike event in Australia and I believe it to be one of the best organized. The Odyssey is held annually in a quaint (aka. sleepy so don’t expect pre dawn coffee and the pub stops dinner at 8pm) seaside town in Victoria called […]
The Kona Odyssey: always an epic race
Odyssey – a word that summons thoughts of an epic voyage of discovery, challenge and triumph. Wow, that’s quite a lot to live up to; is a mountain bike race worthy of such a title? Well last Saturday’s running of the Kona Odyssey was far from an ordinary outing and I’m going to go out […]
Training with the Ford Performance Racing Team
Naomi Hansen is one of Australia’s leading Marathon and Stage Race riders. Beyond looking after all the pets in Noosa at her veterinary practice – she is also racing for the Subaru-MarathonMTB.com Team in 2012 One of the benefits of living and training in Noosa is that you never really know who you may end up […]
Hard racing for clear thinking
It was only at the end of last week that I was ecstatic about the bigger events on my own personal calendar being so imminent. Preparing so many varied elements of your life, lifestyle and fitness for a large proportion of the year is somewhat taxing. Gratefully, the end is in sight – and it’s […]
Winter night-riding
Night-riding is fun. And at the end of a day at work, it can be particularly satisfying, because it feels as if you’re winning extra riding time. Yes it can be a bit of a mission, especially if like me you work in central London and it’s a half-hour ride home then an hour’s drive to […]