2024 Devil Cardigan Gravel Nationals

In June 2024, Tasmania’s MTB and gravel hotspot known as Derby, became the playground for one of Australia’s premier gravel events, the Devils Cardigan, for the third time. This ‘devilish’ gravel race attracted elite and recreational riders alike from across the nation and once again played host to the Auscycling’s Gravel National Champs (raced over a 106km course). Devils Cardigan also put on a 52km shorter course and both events had multiple racing categories to cater for all experience and fitness levels. 

Before we go on, did anyone mention the weather? No? Ok, let’s talk about arctic chill, for a bit.  Anyone who’s been a regular at these events over the last few years will know all about the frosty early morning temps on the startline and the need to do an extra lap or two to warm up and prepare really well. You won’t get away with a flimsy Queensland winter jersey at this place! This year was no different and there are plenty of photos to prove it (Enter: riders rugged up in cardys and beanies!). But the gravel gods were smiling on everyone this year with no sign of the torrential rain that muddied the course in 2023, making it a record breaking super fast race.

There was an excited vibe all around Derby in the lead up to the race. On the morning of the Devils Cardigan 2024, Derby was buzzing. As everyone anticipated, it was icy cold with frost settling on the trees and heaps of mumbling from everyone about how cold it was. Derby looked like it had a thick blanket of fog thrown over it as a sea of riders warmed up all along the Derby streets – nervous but excited about what lay ahead. 

Everyone’s race experience would have been a bit different but there were all smiles at the finish line in Branxholm (ok, let’s be honest: some were actually grimacing!). So a Little Rivers ‘Devils Cardigan’ beer was just the thing to revive the tired bodies. Never had a beer tasted so bloody good.  

With the races all done for another year, it was obvious this was another successful Devils event. Branxhom was jam-packed with riders telling their mates about what happened, like stories of flat tyres, aching sore bodies, lost water bottles and nasty pinchy climbs that lasted forever. 

After a bit of a freshen up and presentations at the local hall, everyone flocked to the Dorsett Hotel in Derby for a well-deserved and eagerly anticipated banger of a dinner, chat with mates and another beer (or 3) by the fire. Another Devils done and memories made. 

The long course (National Gravel Championships):

If you think you’re going to get it easy by doing the short course then you’re mistaken. Both the long and short courses that make up the Devils Cardigan have long unforgiving climbs, gnarly descents and Instagram-worthy picturesque landscapes. But the National Gravel Champs course is a cut above in terms of grunt, fitness level and good preparation that’s required to finish it. 

It consists of 106km of rugged terrain with roughly 2300m of vertical ascent and for those who’ve been brave enough to tackle it, it’s no easy feat. The gravel isn’t what riders would normally call ‘champagne gravel’ which is usually smooth ‘road like’ gravel. The gravel found in Derby is more like a rocky mountain bike trail in most parts.

The 2024 elite women’s race

The women’s elite field had a separate start to the men’s race and they set a solid tempo up the first climb, Mutual Valley.  The group of 13 ladies in the women’s elite field dwindled down to just four by the top of Mutual Valley and included reigning champion Justine Barrow, Courtney Shewell, Ella Bloor and Cassia Boglio. 

These four riders descended down the first descent of the day, named Dead Horse Hill Descent. Cassia Boglio punctured on the rough rocky terrain which left just the 3 women Justine Barrow, Courtney Shewell, Ella Bloor racing into the Ralph Falls climb.

Justine felt motivated to set a high tempo on Ralph Falls but was unable to detach the two rivals in the first part of the climb. A couple of men’s elite groups passed the three women, giving Justine and Courtney the opportunity to jump on for part of the climb, however Ella was unable to do so.

These two riders rode together into the third climb which was called Unnamed Climb of Hell (frightening no?).  Then Justine created a small gap which grew into a sizable lead that she extended over the False Flat section, roughly 70 kms in. The two then came together again towards the end of False Flat before the descent into Ringarooma.

Justine created another gap up the final climb before the Branxholm finish which was quickly shut down by Courtney. The two then rode into the finish straight together where Courtney inched her way past Justine in what was a nail biting sprint finish that crowned Courtney Sherwell as the 2024 Elite Female Gravel National Champion.

The 2024 elite men’s race:

The elite men’s race consisted of 47 quality riders from all over Australia. The men started fast and a large group of riders formed on the first climb up Mutual Road. The pace was fast, pushing well into threshold territory for the first 15 minutes.

Defending Cardigan wearer Connor Sens had his first unlucky encounter at the top of Mutual Road right after the Mutual Valley climb, where he crashed off the side of the trail. 

The first of the big descents was called Dead Horse Hill Descent which goes straight into the first feed station. This became a pivotal point of the race because it was where the remaining elite men’s field became strung out forming several smaller groups. It was even causing some pre-race favorites to puncture over the rough and rocky terrain.

The two riders leading the race at this point were Brendan ‘Trekky’ Johnson and Adam Blazevic who rode out of sight up the Ralph Falls Climb, approximately 35km into the race.

A smaller group of 10-15 elite men formed on the roads before the second climb, including the eventual 2nd place finisher Mark O’Brien and 3rd place finisher Mark Chong. The group halved in the first 5 mins as the two Marks put the pressure on to chase back the time they lost on the descent. They closed the gap to within 30 seconds, before Johnson decided to take matters into his own hands riding away from Blazevic on the steeper sections of the Ralph Falls Climb. A group of riders who couldn’t match the pace of the chase group formed halfway up the Ralph Falls Climb, this group thinned out towards the summit of Ralph Falls. 

Johnson extended this gap into a sizeable lead of 1:15 minutes at the top of the final climb where he rode the final 40kms into Branxholm to become the 2024 Elite Male Gravel Cycling National Champion.

The Devils Cardigan is one of my favourite races, this year was my second attempt at the cardigan and I can honestly say that this is one of the best run events in Australia. I definitely aim to be back in the future.