On Wednesday morning at 12.00 local time in South Africa, Ramses Bekkenk started The Munga in Bloemfontein and then finished on Friday at 14:30 as winner in Wellington. The race conditions mainly had a headwind over 1070 kilometres through South Africa. The route has to be ridden within five days and Bekkenk succeeded more than […]
The Pioneer Stage five – Final stage brings a few surprises
Tired legs roll out of Bannockburn This morning we got up before dawn and munched through breakfast in the dark. It’s always unbelievable to me that, given my usual appetite, when we get into the depths of a stage race I find myself completely without interest in food, so that eating is stripped of any […]
“That’s one of my hardest days on the bike” – midweek at The Pioneer
Related Event: The Pioneer
Today’s stage from Alexandra to Bannockburn looked a little innocuous on paper. 79km, with a couple of big climbs – but all farm track. That’s over 20km shorter than Stage 2, but similar climbing, but no singletrack – so it should be faster. And I think for many people, they probably liked it. And deep […]
Pioneer hits the Alex trails for the Queen Stage
Why is it that we only crash when things are great? All those awful, cold, wet grovels where you’d pay good money for a legitimate Out, nothing. Nothing goes wrong. Except maybe a flat tyre, but that’s fixable. Now when you’re ripping through trails, performing well, loving it – that’s when life deals you a […]
How to set your bike up for The Pioneer
The Pioneer is just days away, and all in a rush it was time to actually make the changes to the bikes Imogen Smith and I are taking to The Pioneer for 2018. We’ve both done a number of mountain bike stage races, but this is the most ‘trail’ we have set up our race […]
European XCM Championships hosted by Malevil Cup in 2022
The European Championship will return to the Czech Republic in 2022. The European Marathon MTB Champions will be selected on the trails of the Malevil Cup in Lusatian Mountains, 10 years after the last time. The Commission of European Cycling Union entrusted the Malevil Cup organisers to host the European Championship in MTB Marathon (XCM) […]
Hellfire Cup Sprint Stage Race Wraps up in Tasmania
Related Event: Hellfire Cup
The final two days of the Hellfire Cup have wrapped up on the stunning Tasman Peninsula outside Hobart, Tasmania. Friday evening brought with it a rather catastrophic forecast with sever weather warnings given to the race area of catastrophic winds of over 110km/h. Subsequently the race organisers ‘Storm Bay Productions’ headed by Tasmanian MTB personality […]
Action underway at Tasmania’s premier stage race.
Related Event: Hellfire Cup
The Hellfire Cup now in it’s 5th year has quickly become a staple in the Australian MTB stage race calendar. Always attracting a high quality field of racers from across the country. The race is located an easy 45minute drive from the island’s growing major city Hobart meaning logistics and access is very straightforward. The […]
We test the Camelbak Octane 10 backpack
There is a lot to be said for having the right equipment. The trouble is, what is right for one event or purpose, isn’t always right for another. The Camelbak Chase Bike Vest has been really popular not just amongst our team of riders, but globally as well. The Chase Bike Vest is stable, can carry […]
Huber and White take Crocodile Trophy
Related Event: Crocodile Trophy
Urs Huber crossed the line as overall victor for the 5th time of the Crocodile Trophy in Port Douglas over the weekend in one of the closest ever margins in the race’s 24 year history. Australia’s Sarah White took the Women’s title the 2nd ever overall Croc victory for the ultra endurance athlete from Cairns. […]