Reef to Reef is finally here! There’s been a fair bit of excitement about this event and it’s understandable. Not often do you get the chance to 1. Race in Cairns in the dead of winter, and 2. Race in a pair in Australia, or even 3. Attend an event in its inaugural year. The […]
Colombians rule supreme on Stage three at La Leyenda
The 27 km third stage of La Leyenda del Dorado 2018 was another day where the Colombian stage race showed just how varied it is. The sun was out, and the XC stage went the way of the Colombians in the Elite categories. Racers completed three laps on a route that stood out for its technicality and and this was where Colombians […]
Imogen Smith: The ultimate comeback
It’s been quite some time since I’ve written a blog for MarathonMTB.com. Far too long, in fact, if you read the fine-print on my contract. But it’s not by accident. The last time I wrote just after National XCM Champs I managed to compose a cheery-ish, superficial post that sufficiently, I thought, masked the utter […]
Sebastian Jayne tackles the Dolomiti Superbike
Over 4500 people, one of the fastest courses, most of the top professional racers, I think this race is kind of a big deal, might be pretty quick. Sounds fun! Sebastian Jayne from The XC Perspective shares his experience of racing one of Italy’s classic marathons – the Dolomiti Superbike. I’ve raced some pretty ‘big’ […]
Paez and Kollman-Forstner win Sellaronda Hero
Related Event: Sellaronda Hero
Bright blue skies and picture-book conditions were present in the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites: organisers and participants of the BMW HERO Südtirol Dolomites could not have asked for more. The hugely popular race still presents an immense challenge in fine weather and the 4018 starters had to give it their all on 86 kilometres and 4500 vertical […]
Tangles in the tea plantations
Related Event: Rumble in the Jungle
Waking up in Haputale this morning was a unique experience. With a tiny bit of jet lag I was awake just before 4:30am. Then the mosque next to the hotel had a call to prayer. Then there were roosters. Then train horns, then dogs, then tropical birdsong. While it is easy to sometimes forget where […]
Bike Check: Jolanda Neff’s Kross Earth
Jolanda Neff is one of the most exciting and dynamic riders in cross-country racing. She is the reigning XCO World Champion and won the XCM World Championships in 2016. Neff has also confirmed she will ride the Whaka 100 in New Zealand this October. Since riding for Kross Neff has been on a Kross Level hardtail, […]
Johnston and Harris cinch Port to Port 2018 titles
Related Event: Port to Port MTB
The final day of the 2018 Port to Port promised to be many things. It would be on of the shorter stages at 45km, and the flattest with only 570m of climbing. But it would also have some of the best trails, and be the only stage that would take us from one point to […]
Everything you need to know about the Bayview Blast 2018
Related Event: Bayview Blast
The 2018 Bayview Blast is just around the corner! This bike race in south-east Queensland has gone from strength to strength. Best of all, what was a 4-lap race now only relies on two long laps for most of the race, thanks to trail improvements and hard work. The facilities at the Bayview Conservation area […]
Huber and Dohrn take first Willingen XCM titles
Success isn’t alwways immediate, and Swiss Bull Urs Huber has claimed victory in the Rocky Mountain BIKE Marathon. The Swiss pro mastered the new 116 km long course and its 3,220 metres of climbing through the Upland region in 4:39.30,69 hours while Stefanie Dohrn of Germany triumphed for the first time in the women’s event […]