Words: Andrew Handyside. Photos: Melissa May The XCM World Championships are nearly upon us and, as any responsible national governing body would do, MTBA have named their athletes who will pull on the green and gold to represent us against the finest the world has to offer. As you know, kitting up for the lads […]
The Breck Epic: A Hero’s Proving Grounds
On October 13 2009 the Chinook Helicopter Juan Carlos Hernandez was sitting side gunner on was struck by a rocket propelled grenade. A routine nighttime mission over Afghanistan took a fateful turn as the floor beneath Hernandez burst with schrapnel from the rpg hit causing Hernandez to loose his right leg in a beneath-the-knee amputation. However […]
Preparing to take on Ironbike
Ironbike is one of the longest running and probably the most renowned mountain bike stage race in the calendar, for simply being the toughest. This year Ironbike celebrates 25 years of pitting man against mountain and despite its reputation for leaving riders broken, this race sells out every year with a significant waiting list. Held […]
Travel south for the Southern Peaks
Related Event: Southern Peaks - Southern MTB
A single day marathon requires travel, accommodation, and dedication to making sure everything goes right on the day. But thankfully there’s a new crop of events that are appearing, and growing in strength. 2-4 day mountain bike festivals are gaining favour as a way to use your weekend and maybe another day or two to […]
How to make your paired stage race a success
Here at MarathonMTB.com we are firm believers that paired stage races create some of the best mountain bike experiences. Mountain biking is often viewed as a sport for individuals – and it is. But mountain biking also offers so many things that are best experienced with others. The general rhythm of a stage race means […]
Previewing the Costa Blanca stage race
Warm winter sun, dusty trails, singletrack, technical trails and an official race hotel, the Cap Negret, right at the beach’s edge, what’s not to like? This is the Costa Blanca Bike Race, held at the end of January in Altea on the southeast coast of Spain. Utilising the surrounding coastal mountain range, it’s 4-day stage […]
Everything you need to know about the Bayview Blast 2018
Related Event: Bayview Blast
The 2018 Bayview Blast is just around the corner! This bike race in south-east Queensland has gone from strength to strength. Best of all, what was a 4-lap race now only relies on two long laps for most of the race, thanks to trail improvements and hard work. The facilities at the Bayview Conservation area […]
Get red hot at The Redback this winter
Related Event: The Redback
In Australia, there is more than just a chill in the air in some parts of the country. With early snow falls in the Alps, and even snow on the ground on the Tablelands last week, it’s clear winter is making its mark for 2018. And while some of the racing is winding up for […]
7 things I have learnt from 10 years of mountain bike stage racing
It’s 2018 and I have realised it is now more than 10 years since my first mountain bike stage race – BIKE Transalp in 2008, where I raced with Scott Cornish. Interestingly enough Scott was also racing at the Snow Bike Festival in January earlier this year, an altogether different race to the 8 days […]
Preparing for Easter in the Alice
Related Event: Easter in the Alice
Lasseters Easter in the Alice starts tomorrow, with the first stage sending elite racers on a 75km singletrack-heavy loop of some of the best and some of the roughest trails in Alice Springs. Racing in Alice Springs at this event, or The Redback in August, combines a number of unique demands. The trails in Alice […]