Most mountain bikers will participate in a marathon event, or at the very least a challenging marathon ride, at least once. Marathons usually take four or more hours to complete, and the physical test of pushing the body for that long is surpassed only by the mental challenge of staying focused, positive, and coping with […]
Lomas Wefing: striving for progress not perfection
“What’s happened?” Dad asked as he caught sight of me trudging through the bushes into the tech zone. “They’ve pulled me out on the 80% rule.” I groaned. I’d done two laps. That was my first taste of UCI Junior HC XCO racing in Europe. Short, but not very sweet. We’d set out on the […]
Racing in Paradise – Azores UCI MTB Marathon
This past weekend the cycling circus flew to the middle of the North Atlantic Sea for the Azores MTB Marathon, a round of the UCI World Marathon Series. The Azores are a group of 9 volcanic islands with the racing taking place on Sao Miguel which is the largest and most populated island. The geography […]
Imogen Smith’s XCM World Championships
Whenever I chat to bike racers who are ready to step away from competition there’s always one aspect of racing that has particularly turned them off the lifestyle. It’s not the sacrifices, the diet, or the training. It’s not the nerves, the uncertainty, or the agony of racing… Nope, it’s the waiting. Days spent in […]
Roc des Alpes Marathon – the best race I never finished
In the whole lead-up to this trip to Europe, I’ve focused more on the Roc des Alpes Marathon than the actual World Champs race. To be held a week before Worlds, I knew that if I was ever to have a chance at getting a podium in a UCI Series marathon in Europe, the Roc […]
Port to Port Stage 1 – Ward and Sheppard on top
Related Event: Port to Port MTB
Port to Port is back and bigger than ever. Now in its third year, and now boasting a field of about 600, riders set off on the traditional sandblasting stage one today from the gorgeous marina in Nelsons Bay, dolphins playing in the water beside us. The first stage of Port to Port is always […]
Belgian Mountain Bike Challenge 2016 – Magic In The Ardennes
Related Event: Belgian Mountain Bike Challenge
The Belgium Mountain Bike Challenge might only be 3 days but it’s impossible not to get wrapped up in it. Eat, race, eat, sleep, repeat. The post race depression quickly kicks in as reality strikes. No sooner had we finished the final 6 hour stage we were on the road driving the 8 hours back […]
Schurter and Langvad win Cairns World Cup
The world of XCO racing is about to go full gas for a few months, in the run up to World Championships through the World Cup, and then onto the Olympics in Rio. As the first round, the UCI XCO World Cup in Cairns was going to be intense. And today it didn’t disappoint. While […]
Reviewed: Maxxis Ikon 29 x 2.0 EXO TR
The Maxxis Ikon is currently synonymous with XC and XCM racing. Along with the Schwalbe Racing Ralph, the Ikon tread pattern is in favour with many endurance based riders and racers. Like the Hutchinson Python, Kenda Small Block 8 and Specialized Fast Trak and others over the years, the Ikon rolls fast and has predictable, […]
Volcat GP to see 700 participants take to Catalan Hills this Easter
Related Event: Volcat GP
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 […]