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 […]
An ode to the hardtail
Words: Amy Henchoz I’m just gonna say it. Hardtails are awesome. When you can tame them. The feeling of smashing it down a descent when you and the bike are perfectly in tune, feeling everything the bike feels and accepting the abuse, using it to your advantage to feel where the grip is and just […]
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 Gravel in Belgium, the Heartland of Cycling
The new UCI Gravel Series comes as gravel cycling continues its rise in popularity, gravel is very much the buzz word this year. What better way to experience the growth of gravel than heading to the heartland of cycling, Belgium, for the seventh round of this new headline race series. After a long journey from […]
Belgian Mountainbike Challenge: 4 Days of Fireworks
The race takes over the town of La Roche en Ardenne which is overlooked by the medieval castle and surrounding Ardenne hills. The spectacular surroundings add to the drama of the race and buzz around the town during race week.
European XCM Championships to Lusatian Mountains in Czech Republic
For the second time in history, the Lusatian Mountains will welcome the best marathon bikers of Europe to compete in the Twentieth Anniversary MTB Marathon European Championships. In its first edition in 2012, the championship was dominated by Czech riders. Kristián Hynek became the European Champion, followed by Pavel Boudný at the second position. The […]
Cape Epic Stage Seven 2022
The Absa Cape Epic 2022 final stage delivered a day that saw the event’s history books rewritten as Speed Company Racing overcame a two minute and 45 second deficit to claim the yellow Men’s category leader jerseys and the overall title at Val de Vie Estate. The CM.com Women’s category saw Candice Lill and Mariske Strauss race to […]
Cape Epic Stage 6 2022
The penultimate stage of the 2022 Absa Cape Epic took place in what many consider is a trail paradise, Stellenbosch. The route featured 76km and some 2700m of climbing, taking in Idas Valley, Banhoek, and Jonkershoek. NinetyOne-songo-Specialized are unstoppable The NinetyOne-songo-Specialized team of Sofia Gómez Villafane and Haley Batten won their third stage in the CM.com Women’s category […]
Cape Epic Stage Five 2022
Stage Five of the 2022 Cape Epic took riders to Stellenbosch, one of the homes of mountain biking in South Africa. But it wasn’t without challenge (hey, it’s the Epic) as the iconic Rusty Gate climb was tackled right from the gun! NinetyOne-songo-Specialized strengthen lead Sofia Gómez Villafane and Haley Batten (NinetyOne-songo-Specialized) won Stage 5 […]