Tomorrow the fifth edition of the Belgian Mountain Bike Challenge, in short the BeMC, will kick off in La Roche-en-Ardenne. During three days and 260 km covering 7800 meters of climbing over 500 participants from almost 20 different countries will fight for the final victory. I’m currently sat in our accommodation with 2 nervous Brits, […]
Previewing the Australian XCM Championships in Derby
This weekend the Australian XCM Championships take place in Derby, Tasmania. This is the second year that the event has come to Derby, and the sixth year that the race has taken a lap-based format. In 2015, the marathon racing stars of Australia came to Derby unsure what they would find. While many knew that about […]
Leonardo Paez and Annabella Stropparo win 2016 Volcat Stage Race
After 3 days of racing across the Easter weekend a total of 524 cyclists completed the Volcat GP, a UCI category 2 event. Sadly I was amongst the none finishers having picked up the bug on stage 2 which left me too ill to race stage 3. The 2 days I did experience though were […]
Volcat GP to see 700 participants take to Catalan Hills this Easter
This Easter weekend, 25 – 27 March, the Spanish Catalan Hills will host the 3 day UCI category 2 Volcat GP. This year the town of Igualada will host all 3 stages making it logistically easier for participants. Whilst the Elite race competes for UCI points as individuals the open race is run as a […]
Algarve Bike Challenge 2016
This past weekend the UCI category 2 Algarve Bike Challenge took place. The event is a marathon stage race taking place over 3 days. You can read my preview for the event here https://marathonmtbcom.wpengine.com/2016/03/03/algarve-bike-challenge-preview-and-stage-race-catch-up/ The event was a pair’s race so I teamed up with Austrian Uwe Hochenwarter who rides for the Craft Rocky Mountain […]
The beauty of pairs racing
It takes Two to Tango… Pairs Racing Marathon racing is in decline in Australia. Make no bones about it. No matter how many cries of ‘there are just more races out there, so numbers are diluted’ I hear, the simple facts are that fewer people are attending marathon races – regardless of reason and when […]
Val di Sole Marathon – and more in 2016
The Val di Sole is a popular destination for the snow season, and for mountain biking. The valley of the sun beckons keen outdoors people in all seasons. And in 2016 they have a big year. Not only will the Val di Sole host the Downhill World Championships and Masters XCO/DH World Championships in September, they also […]
UCI World Marathon Series – La Forestiere
My season will finish up with 3 rounds of the UCI World Marathon Series spread over 4 weeks. The first of these was held in Arbent, France which is in the Jura region. This round was part of La Forestiere which is a mini cycling festival with a packed schedule of events over the […]
Bigham and Hynek win the 3Epic in Italy
One of the newer marathon races on the calendar, the 3Epic combines epic views and epic climbing. While some pretty horrific weather rolled in for race day, the world’s best didn’t disappoint and raced hard in the foul conditions. The Czech of Topeak Racing Team dominated the first edition of 3Epic – Tre Cime di Lavaredo […]
National Park Bike Marathon 2015
Circumnavigating the beautiful Swiss National Park is the National Park Bike Marathon. Part of the hugely popular Swiss Bike Marathon Series, the NP marathon draws the best Swiss and international marathon stars to battle over the 137km course. The 4000m of climbing over the full course is made up of four main climbs that all […]