In 2023, the OG of mountain bike stage races, Transalp, turns 25. To celebrate this milestone the race from 9-15 July will be listed as a UCI S1 event. This means riders who take part in the men’s and women’s categories can achieve ranking points. Race director Marc Schneider considers the step to list the […]
Sammie Maxwell and Ben Oliver win 2022 Whaka 100
On October 23, New Zealand’s best mountain bikers and many from around the Oceania region gathered in Rotorua for the Whaka 100. The mountain bike event has quickly become known for being tough, but also very rewarding thanks to the event organisation and high quality trails. In 2022, the main event would also host New […]
Maxwell and Cooper snare NZ Eliminator titles at Whaka 100
The Whaka 100 is one of the most prestigious events in the Oceania region. While the marathon commands respect from anyone who has put a number on the bars, it also needs a way to sort the starting order. For 2022 the event moved from the traditional time trial to an Eliminator event. And then […]
Whaka 100 to fire up Rotorua
The 2022 Isuzu Utes Whaka 100 takes place this weekend in Rotorua, New Zealand. And for the first time in years, New Zealand mountain bikers will also have a Marathon MTB National Championship to contest, with the elite ranks duking it out for the coveted National Champion titles in the 107km Whaka 100. But for […]
Absa Cape Epic 2023 Route: full analysis
The Absa Cape Epic route reveal is one of the most hotly awaited stories of the mountain bike stage racing calendar. With its well-deserved reputation as the hardest-fought and toughtest physical challenge on two wheels, we’ve been checking and rechecking our emails in anticipation of the 2023 route release – and here it is. By […]
Racing bikes in Finnmark Norway: Skaidi Xtreme
Bikes can take you to some magical places but Finnmark Norway looks like another bucket list location. Our European editor Ben Thomas recently flew north for Skaidi Xtreme 2022.
British National Marathon Championships
This would be the first National Marathon Championships I’ve done since 2013 or 2014 where I’ve not seen myself as the favourite to win. After winning in 2015, 2016, and 2019 a lot has changed. I’m married, dad to an amazing toddler, and the coaching business has gone from a small startup to a full […]
Reef to Reef Day Four – just tempo
Words: Imogen Smith Firstly, a clarification. The suggestion that Mike ride the last 17 kilometres to the finish of Stage 3 on our only back wheel after sitting at the feedzone for a couple of hours was mine – not the other mixed racers’, not the R2R people, and definitely, definitely not Mike’s. Also, we […]
Reef to Reef Stage 3 – another banger of a ride
By Imogen Smith Ahhhh good old stage race mass starts. I’ll never learn to love them. Today we rolled out in two big waves on super fast gravel roads around Wetherby Station, host of many Croc Trophy stages (oh the trauma). While I wouldn’t describe the start as hectic, strictly speaking, it was definitely intense. […]
Reef to Reef Stage 2 – mixed racing
Words: Imogen Smith | Photos: Tim Bardsley-Smith It was an early start today, getting up at five am so I had enough time to remove the ‘murder plastic’ from the hotel windows (my DIY blackout solution, which BTW is amazing) and pack two bikes, two bike bags, two gear bags, and somehow, about fourteen other […]