2010 Scott 24 Hours of Adrenalin Australian 24 Hour Mountain Bike Championships
Mountain biking in October means just one thing, the Scott 24 hour! By late August there’s a buzz around town. The trails are populated with first time mountain bikers, annual regulars and seasoned campaigners desperately seeking some last minute fitness. Canberra’s bike shops are run off their feet supplying lights and last minute services and office chatter hits an all time high as excitement builds and stories of first ride experiences fill the morning break.
The 2010 Scott 24 Hours of Adrenalin Australian 24 Hour Mountain Bike Championships is on the horizon and this year it’s got company: The 24 Hours of Adrenalin 2010 World Solo 24 Hour Mountain Bike Championships!
Since its birth over 10 years ago, CORC’s Australian 24 Hour Championships have evolved into arguably the greatest mountain bike festival in the world! After years of producing world champions alongside complete novices, it’s only fitting that the two pinnacle events of mass participation and solo discovery unite on 9-10 October 2010 to form one of the greatest mountain bike events the world has ever seen.
This is the first time that the world solo 24 hour champs have ventured outside of North America in its 12 year history. The great thing about 24 hour racing in 2010 is that there are so many riders from countries, including many from Europe, who have never competed at world level before so it could be anyone’s guess at the outcome. The national champions from Australia, UK, NZ, Argentina, Denmark, Austria and Italy are already lined up and ready to do battle.
The World Champs and the Scott will use two different courses, with the solos taking on a tougher lap, the likes of which have never been seen in a solo World Champs. They will hit the top of the mountain twice each lap on a course which demands 100% concentration, 100% of the time. Not an easy task for 24 hours!
So far, over 400 riders have entered for the 24 Hours of Adrenalin 2010 World Solo 24 Hour Mountain Bike Championships, already over twice the size of the previous biggest ever world solo championships. With team entries reaching close to capacity, up to 2500 riders are expected to compete in the traditional side of the event, amassing a grand total of nearly 800 riders on the mountain at any one time. Come nightfall, Stromlo Forest Park will host one of the most spectacular light shows ever seen.
Australia has enjoyed vast success on the World Solo 24 hour stage with three elite male champions and several female podium finishes. The current 24 Hours of Adrenalin World Solo Men’s Champion is Jason English from Port Macquarie, NSW. Jason won the title in Canmore, Alberta in July 2009. With the opportunity to vie for a world championship on a track where he has taken several national titles, English will be determined to add another jersey to his collection. “Having the worlds in Australia will be fantastic! I love the idea of competing in an event that will bring up to 10 000 mountain bike loving people together. With up to 450 solo riders competing it will make for a truly spectacular event. Having the teams event at the same time will also enhance the amount of spectators creating a great atmosphere.”
Preparing for the toughest race in his career English knows what to expect. “To win I think you will need to complete over 10km of vertical climbing. It will be a battle of the strongest riders. I think the legs will be hardly turning at the end of the race!” With the winning riders expected to cover up to 460km on the trails, the race will be a true test of the human mind and body.
2006 World Solo 24 Hour Champion, Australia’s Craig Gordon, will also make a return to the track and everyone is eagerly anticipating the battle between the two world champions. Craig won the Coffs Harbour Pleasure and Pain 100Km race on the weekend of 7/8 August, the same weekend that Jason English won the Sydney JetBlack 12 Hour. So, both riders are at the top of their game, but it looks like there will be no early showdown, before the world championships.
It’s not only world titles that will be battled for, it’s each of the teams categories. The ever hotly contested four-man category will be a battle between the countries greatest riders for the events ‘unofficial’ teams title. A prestigious title which dates back to the early days when Australia’s international MTB stars competed purely for bragging rights. It’s now evolved into a major competition between not only riders but major sponsors. Title contenders Rockstar, GU, TORQ/Anytime Fitness and Swell Design will all enter teams comprising national representatives and champions. Anytime Fitness director Richard Peel see’s the Scott 24 hr as an important event for Australia’s elite riders. “The broad exposure the elite level riders receive at the Scott 24 hour is crucial for furthering their professional career and Torq/Anytime Fitness will be supporting it’s riders to reach the top step of the Scott’s esteemed podium.”
The regions business community has also embraced the event with various local sponsors including Mac1, Swell Design Group, Crowne Plaza Canberra and Canberra Toyota providing valuable support. The ‘Corporate teams challenge’ has become a battleground for these business’ and others to showcase their mountain biking prowess whilst engaging their staff and professional image in a successful community event.
Crowne Plaza Canberra’s General Manager, Matthew Young had this to say on their involvement, “Crowne Plaza Canberra has had an active partnership with the Scott 24 Hour for the past couple of years. What started off as (just) an exciting event for staff members to jump on their bike as a team activity has quickly snowballed into the hotel being a major sponsor and entering two teams into last years event. The Scott 24 hour is a fantastic weekend on the Canberra MTB calendar and hits the mark on pretty much every level, as a rider, spectator, sponsor and for cementing Canberra’s position in the MTB calendar of events. It’s a partnership we are certainly aiming to continue, especially as we are looking to defend our title in the Corporate Challenge.”
With less than two months till the biggest 24 hours on the annual MTB calendar, excitement is building. If you haven’t seen a 24 hour race before, this years Scott 24 Hours of Adrenalin Australian 24 Hour Mountain Bike Championships and 24 Hours of Adrenalin 2010 World Solo 24 Hour Mountain Bike Championships will be the biggest and best the world has ever seen.
More event information can be found on the event website at:
Canberra: 12°
2010 Scott 24 Hours of Adrenalin Australian 24 Hour Mountain Bike Championships
Mountain biking in October means just one thing, the Scott 24 hour! By late August there’s a buzz around town. The trails are populated with first time mountain bikers, annual regulars and seasoned campaigners desperately seeking some last minute fitness. Canberra’s bike shops are run off their feet supplying lights and last minute services and office chatter hits an all time high as excitement builds and stories of first ride experiences fill the morning break.
The 2010 Scott 24 Hours of Adrenalin Australian 24 Hour Mountain Bike Championships is on the horizon and this year it’s got company: The 24 Hours of Adrenalin 2010 World Solo 24 Hour Mountain Bike Championships!
Since its birth over 10 years ago, CORC’s Australian 24 Hour Championships have evolved into arguably the greatest mountain bike festival in the world! After years of producing world champions alongside complete novices, it’s only fitting that the two pinnacle events of mass participation and solo discovery unite on 9-10 October 2010 to form one of the greatest mountain bike events the world has ever seen.
The World Champs and the Scott will use two different courses, with the solos taking on a tougher lap, the likes of which have never been seen in a solo World Champs. They will hit the top of the mountain twice each lap on a course which demands 100% concentration, 100% of the time. Not an easy task for 24 hours!
So far, over 400 riders have entered for the 24 Hours of Adrenalin 2010 World Solo 24 Hour Mountain Bike Championships, already over twice the size of the previous biggest ever world solo championships. With team entries reaching close to capacity, up to 2500 riders are expected to compete in the traditional side of the event, amassing a grand total of nearly 800 riders on the mountain at any one time. Come nightfall, Stromlo Forest Park will host one of the most spectacular light shows ever seen.
Australia has enjoyed vast success on the World Solo 24 hour stage with three elite male champions and several female podium finishes. The current 24 Hours of Adrenalin World Solo Men’s Champion is Jason English from Port Macquarie, NSW. Jason won the title in Canmore, Alberta in July 2009. With the opportunity to vie for a world championship on a track where he has taken several national titles, English will be determined to add another jersey to his collection. “Having the worlds in Australia will be fantastic! I love the idea of competing in an event that will bring up to 10 000 mountain bike loving people together. With up to 450 solo riders competing it will make for a truly spectacular event. Having the teams event at the same time will also enhance the amount of spectators creating a great atmosphere.”
Preparing for the toughest race in his career English knows what to expect. “To win I think you will need to complete over 10km of vertical climbing. It will be a battle of the strongest riders. I think the legs will be hardly turning at the end of the race!” With the winning riders expected to cover up to 460km on the trails, the race will be a true test of the human mind and body.
2006 World Solo 24 Hour Champion, Australia’s Craig Gordon, will also make a return to the track and everyone is eagerly anticipating the battle between the two world champions. Craig won the Coffs Harbour Pleasure and Pain 100Km race on the weekend of 7/8 August, the same weekend that Jason English won the Sydney JetBlack 12 Hour. So, both riders are at the top of their game, but it looks like there will be no early showdown, before the world championships.
The regions business community has also embraced the event with various local sponsors including Mac1, Swell Design Group, Crowne Plaza Canberra and Canberra Toyota providing valuable support. The ‘Corporate teams challenge’ has become a battleground for these business’ and others to showcase their mountain biking prowess whilst engaging their staff and professional image in a successful community event.
Crowne Plaza Canberra’s General Manager, Matthew Young had this to say on their involvement, “Crowne Plaza Canberra has had an active partnership with the Scott 24 Hour for the past couple of years. What started off as (just) an exciting event for staff members to jump on their bike as a team activity has quickly snowballed into the hotel being a major sponsor and entering two teams into last years event. The Scott 24 hour is a fantastic weekend on the Canberra MTB calendar and hits the mark on pretty much every level, as a rider, spectator, sponsor and for cementing Canberra’s position in the MTB calendar of events. It’s a partnership we are certainly aiming to continue, especially as we are looking to defend our title in the Corporate Challenge.”
More event information can be found on the event website at:
http://www.corc24hour.com.au/index.asp?IntCatId=14
And you can check out photos, maps and other info here:
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lematelot56/InfoFor2010WorldSoloAndScott24HrChamps#