Living in a mild climate, the first big ride of summer is lost on me. It would probably be associated with sunburn, blown out dusty trails or dehydration. But having just visited Ogden, in Utah, I went for a sunday ride with two of the Competitive Cyclist Mountain Bike Team pro riders, and what would […]
Why don’t more women race?
Are there mixed messages in mountain biking? After a couple of years doing media work in mountain bike racing, it’s a question I get asked every now and then by event promoters desperate to grow women’s participation in their competitions. After all, so many women of all ages are taking up the sport – why […]
How to prepare for the Crocodile Trophy
Related Event: Crocodile Trophy
When I raced my first marathon in Europe (Kitzalpbike, 2007), at the start of a long working holiday, I was soon asked if I had raced the Crocodile Trophy. Even though this was less than ten years ago, at the time there was no appeal for me. Long, hot days on corrugated terrain – I’d seen the […]
Seb Jayne’s Euro Odyssey: Chapter 1
After five weeks, Chapter 1 of my European racing trip has come to an end. And just like a good book it went exceedingly fast. From Germany to Austria to the Czech Republic and back to Germany, each country and race has thrown up its fair share of challenges. Four back-to-back top level XC races […]
The Dirty Gran Fondo
Related Event: Dirty Gran Fondo
Racing bikes is fun, and chances are that if you’re visiting MarathonMTB.com to read this, you’d likely agree with me there. ‘Fun’ may be an interesting way of putting it though, because we go through quite the emotional rollercoaster during our racing exploits. I don’t know about you, but on race day I always feel […]
Nove Mesto world cup – Equipment choice
For the last two years the Nove Mesto World Cup has been voted as riders favourite and with one lap around the course it’s easy to see why. The course is exciting with technical rock gardens and climbs with multiple lines that provide epic wheel-to-wheel battles that are sure to excite the crowd. Speaking of […]
Nove Mesto World Cup Preview
After an extended break the UCI MTB World Cup kicks off again this weekend in the Czech Republic. The Nove Mesto course is a favorite among riders being voted best XCO/XCE event in both 2013 and 2014. Packed into a densely wooded forest next to a Biathlon stadium, the course features roots. Just lots […]
XCM Worlds: Studying the courses of the Sellaronda Hero
In 2015 the Sellaronda Hero is the home for the Cross-Country Marathon (XCM) Mountain Bike World Championships. After a foray into South Africa last year, the XCm Worlds return to Europe, and visit the Dolomites. As a young event, the Sellaronda Hero has quickly grown in stature due to impeccable organisation, a stunning route, and […]
Johnston and Blair take the 2015 Australian XCM Titles
The 2015 Australian Marathon MTB Champs landed on Derby in a big way. The trails have been open since early February, and the town itself is busily preparing itself to cope with the mountain bikers who visit each weekend. Or in this case, a national championship. After numerous age group races were hard fought on […]
Australian XCM Championships 2015: Day One
Related Event: Australian XCM Championships
Mountain Bike Australia (MTBA) announced that Derby, Tasmania, would hold the 2015 and 2016 XCM Champs. It was big news! Visiting in February, the trails were clearly another World Trail masterpiece. With about 30km of singletrack finished at the Blue Derby trails, there was the makings of a very different marathon course. Lots of flowing singletrack, […]