MB Race, Megève. 140km, 7000m climbing

02-08-2016  Scott Cornish   XC Race Reports 

With clear blue skies on the drive into Megeve, we got a real sense of just how tough this race was going to be, mountains rising up from the valley all around, many still with lingering snow,  the snow covered peaks of the Massif du Mont Blanc in the distance. Alan Colville and myself had come...

Austrian-Alps.com, base for summer & winter activities

28-06-2016  Scott Cornish   Reviews 

On the recent trip out to Austria for the Alpentour Trophy, we came across this  gem of a place to stay; Austrian-alps.com, deep in the heart of some amazing riding and skiing areas, just 60 minutes south east of Salzburg, in the Pongau area. Its lesser known status means smaller crowds and...

Alpentour Trophy stage 4 - the TT

19-06-2016  Scott Cornish   XC Race Reports 

Stage 4 was the TT. only a mere 14km, but up a mountain, 1100m of climbing. This wasn't a head down fireroad bash up the to the top either, a mixture of trails, twists and turns broke it up, making the kms tick feel like they ticked by a little faster and the pain a little less! Riders went...

Alpentour Trophy Stage 3 - the big one

18-06-2016  Scott Cornish   XC Race Reports 

Stage 3 was the Queen stage, not long at 67km, but with 3100m of ascent and the weather report was looking tough too, heavy rain all day. Thankfully the unpredictable mountain weather did its thing and changed for the better, overcast and humid, with a just a splattering of rain. The main climb of...

Alpentour Trophy Stage 2

11-06-2016  Scott Cornish   XC Race Reports 

Today we got to see the majesty of these surrounding peaks and ride in glorious sunshine. With 58km and 2900m of climbing, which amounted to 2 big climbs it was going to be a tough day in the saddle. Today was a proper adventure into the mountains, past raging rivers, high waterfalls, singletrack...

Alpentour Trophy stage 1

10-06-2016  Scott Cornish   XC Race Reports 

What a beautiful part of the world. The town of Schladming, nestled deep in the mountains, but we wouldn't get to see much of it today. The forecast was, unfortunately, right. Rain. Non stop all day with the mountains shrouded in cloud cover. Quite a contrast to the heat yesterday, basking in SS...

The Pioneer NZ, 2017 course is launched

10-06-2016  Scott Cornish   XC Race News 

The folks at The Pioneer have made a few changes for 2o17 edition of this stunning race, 20% brand new course for 2017! After a few month's of riding, consulting and planning the 2017 course is ready. Prologue Highlights. Staying true to the epic nature of this event and ensuring a...

4 stage Alpentour Trophy - Austria

04-06-2016  Scott Cornish   XC Race Reports 

The Alpentour Trophy is on next week 9th - 12th June. Our Endurance Ed, Scott, is heading out. 4 stages, 'only' 195km, but 8800m of climbing, with a 14km uphill TT for stage 4. That's straight up a mountain, 1100m of climbing! It is all based out of the picturesque, Austrian town of Schladming, not...

The Belgian Mountain Bike Challenge - BeMC

27-05-2016  Scott Cornish   XC Race Reports 

It has been amazing to watch just how this event has developed over its past 5 editions. From humble beginnings with a cap of 270 riders, it now welcomes nearly 550, with a good number of elite riders and strong riders across all other categories. Its popularity and renown is such that it now...

Niner RKT 9 RDO Review - xc/marathon speedster

19-05-2016  Scott Cornish   Reviews 

Just arrived for a build and in flight testing is the all new Niner RKT RDO, their new go to race rig for xc/marathon. A redesign from the Jet 9 RDO, which now sits on that blurred line between xc and trail bike. The RKT is designed for one thing, speed, as Niner's no compromise frame for fast...

The BeMC, a tough 3 day stage race in the heart of the Ardennes forest

04-05-2016  Scott Cornish   XC Race News 

From the 13th-15th May is the 5th edition of the BeMC. 5 years ago, the BeMC started out as the brainchild of  Koenraad Vanschoren and Thomas Vercaemst, 2 strong mountain bikers who wanted to create the hardest mountain bike tour in the Benelux. With a number of single day marathons in the country...