Quad Crown Reboots in Wild Mersey and Penguin
The inaugural round of this much anticipated series will take place on Tassie turf.
The flowy XC trails of Wild Mersey in the will host the opening round of the Quad Crown MTB Series on April 28th – April 30th, 2023. The first of four mini stage races, the ‘Wild Penguin Round’ will immerse riders in the island’s wilderness, only minutes from Devonport. With a trailhead situated less than 30 minutes from the Spirit of Tasmania terminal, this region is arguably one of the most accessible Tassie trail networks to mainlanders.
Who is Quad Crown for?
Like any good cross-country stage race, Quad Crown offers something for everyone. Elite riders will find a challenging weekend with punchy stages, while weekend warriors will test their endurance and enjoy exploring new trails with their mates. It’s the perfect opportunity for a riding holiday!
All about Wild Mersey
We sent Will Shaw to Wild Mersey in 2021 to report back on the state’s newest trails. With so much high-quality competition in Tasmania, the network had a serious reputation to live up to. The 100km network runs between Latrobe, Railton, and Sheffield, and is littered with green, blue, and black trails; but most of the trails are very approachable and catering to beginners and weekend warriors. The technical nature is a far cry from the likes of Maydena and Derby, but it allows riders to confidently ride the trails blind – perfect for an XC stage race.
The Prelude – Wild Mersey
On the Friday afternoon, riders will open up the legs with a 10km singletrack prelude in Latrobe. Surrounded by dense fernery, this this will be a fun opportunity to find your flow and dust off the travel legs. “The network here is tightly packed and features fantastic trailhead facilities,” said Will after visiting. “The majority of the trails at Warrawee Reserve aren’t the most technical in the Wild Mersey network, and for good reason. The Latrobe and Kentish Councils wanted these trails to be beginner friendly, to encourage both locals and tourists to give riding a go.”
Stage 1 – Penguin
Stage 1 on Satruday will ramp up the physicality however. The well-established network around Penguin will deliver everything from technical singletrack to sweeping views along open fireroads. It’s going to be around 40km with 1200m vert, so expect some significant time gaps to start opening up.
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We visited Penguin back in 2015 and were blown away by the variety of trails on offer. “For such a small sea-side community, Penguin has the most amazing mountain bike park with a huge number of man-made features.”
Stage 2 – Railton
After a recovery dip in the sea near Cradle Coast, riders will head to Railton for Stage 2, another 20 minute drive outside Devonport. This will be similar in length to Stage 1, with 1000m vert over 40km.
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Home to Tasmania’s largest pump track, Railton has become a classic mountain biking destination thanks to the work of TrailScapes. With a huge variety of single-track and varying dirt, this is going to test the skills and stamina of every rider after a big weekend!
Of course, celebrations will await in Devonport before boarding the boat home. This town is renowned for its food and beverage options, the perfect hub around which to base a stage race. So don’t delay! Get onto registrations, book your boat or flight to Devonport, and start training for this epic Tassie adventure.
Can’t make it to Tassie? Don’t worry! Quad Crown will also be visiting the Sunshine Coast (june 9-11), Eden (September 8-10), and Omeo (Nov 10-12) this year.
For more information, visit the Quad Crown website.
