The Quad Crown Sunny 80 is just around the corner, so why not get fired up by reliving the excitement of the 2024 edition?
The weather was freezing. As a Queenslander it was enough for us to get out the ugg boots and beanies: it had cracked single digits and a wintery weekend of temperatures lay ahead for southerners at the Quad Crown Sunny 80 event.
But as the sun rose upon three days of epic racing on some of the Sunshine Coast’s best trails, the blistering cold gave way to clear blue skies and temperatures of around 20 degrees. Even the Queenslanders had to admit that the weather was pretty primo… and the southerners? They didn’t know what I was complaining about with those single-digit temperatures.
The premise is simple: ride bikes on cool trails, complete 80km across three days. If you’re a fan of the spandex, you’re welcome to aim for power PRs and the goal of spending the entire 80km on the limit. If you’re more of a baggies-and-beers kind of rider, the trails are engaging enough to make the climbs worth it and enjoy the tech on the descents. And if you’re an e-biker, Quad Crown even has a category for you.
Simply stated, the Quad Crown isn’t for one type of rider, but anyone that enjoys mountain biking. You don’t have to identify as a bike racer or even strictly adhere to one type of mountain biking. If you mountain bike, you’ve already qualified for the start line.
While the lycra lads and ladies are pedalling furiously up the front, downing gels and staring at their power numbers, Quad Crown has created a handicap system to ensure that for the majority of riders, it’s about racing themselves. The first stage is a time-trial prologue, and from that time trial, Quad Crown generates an expected time for the remainder of the weekend’s racing—a mixture of some kind of alchemy, algebra, and black magic. The winner of the Quad Crown is the rider that finishes closest to their expected time. So while you may not love gels and power numbers, you can still be a winner.
Sunny 80 Day 1: The Prologue at Sugarbag
The 2024 Sunny 80 prologue stage on Friday featured a fast and furious course of around 8km at Caloundra’s Sugarbag Road trail network. Designed by Trailworx, this tiny parcel of land packs a punch and is a must-ride for mountain bikers visiting the Sunshine Coast. With flow trails, jumps, north shore, and a smattering of rocky tech, the entire network features around 12km of tightly packed trails.
The stage started with the mellow Milky Way before turning into Sugar Rush, Party Mix, Honeycomb, and Golden Rough, then ascending Sour Patch to the finish. While cross-country national champion Cameron Ivory was the only person to beat the 20-minute mark, Brent Rees and Jon Adams battled for second and third. In the women’s elite race, Izzy Flint edged out Katherine Hosking, with Em Viotto rounding out the podium.
With the cobwebs well and truly blasted from the legs, it was time to relax ahead of a big weekend of racing at the Moffat Beach Brewing Co.—the perfect way to unwind before another tough day in the saddle.
Sunny 80 Day 2, Stage 1: Parklands—The Technical Test
Billed to be the 2032 Olympic XCO Venue, Parklands is to jank what Sugarbag is to flow. With riders warming up from another arctic start at the Hidden Valley campsite, on-site coffee soothed the frozen northerners, while southerners soaked up the Queensland sun in shorts and thongs.
At 30km, the stage length was similar to Sunday’s, but anyone who has ridden Parklands knows to expect lower than usual average speeds. The trails themselves are raw, featuring rainforest sections, sclerophyll forests, rocky outcrops, and plenty of slow, technical riding with wheel-catching roots, creek crossings, and north shore. While newer trails like Red Dog offer a bit more flow, most of the stage was a rugged, demanding ride.
After feedback from last year, the Quad Crown team rerouted the course to remove hike-a-bike sections, allowing better flow. The change was widely praised, proving that Quad Crown is committed to refining its events.
In the elite men’s race, Cameron Ivory narrowly bested John Odams in a sprint to the line, finishing in 1:42:50. Cameron Wright rounded out the podium. In the women’s race, Izzy Flint delivered another commanding win in 2:01:20, several minutes ahead of Katherine Hosking, with Em Viotto in third.
Sunny 80 Day 3: The Special Stage & Stage 2
By day three of any stage race, coffee becomes less optional and more functional as weary bodies line up. The morning chill was still present, but Queensland’s famous winter warmth soon kicked in.
The day featured two stages: a 10km bonus ‘special stage’ at Ferny Forest, followed by a fast-paced Stage 2.
Ferny Forest is aptly named, with the 10km singletrack loop winding through dense greenery. The tight, twisty course meant that positioning was crucial, leading to plenty of sprint finishes down the fireroad—bar-to-bar racing at its best.
After a short roll back to Mooloolah Valley Country Club and a caffeine top-up, riders lined up for Stage 2. The final stage featured 25km of rolling gravel and singletrack, with just 390m of climbing. It was a perfect final-day spin for those there for the experience, while the racers fought for every second.
In a thrilling drag-race finish, John Odams took the stage win, just 12 seconds ahead of Cameron Ivory, with Cameron Wright in third. Katherine Hosking claimed victory in the women’s race, nearly a minute ahead of Em Viotto, with Izzy Flint rounding out the podium.
Overall, Cameron Ivory held onto his slim lead to take the overall win, with John Odams in second and Cameron Wright in third. Izzy Flint retained a six-minute lead to secure victory over Katherine Hosking, with Em Viotto using consistency to secure third overall.
For the Quad Crown handicap system, Hannah Lee-Young and Kirk Pushie came out on top, finishing closest to their predicted times.
The Sunny 80 is an event to put in your calendar for 2025. It features some of the best trails in Queensland, with a beach getaway thrown in as a bonus. You don’t have to be a speed queen or power bro to enjoy it—so what’s stopping you?
Next Stop on the Quad Crown Tour
📍 The Black Pearl (March 7-9, 2025)
Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, NSW
Enter here
📍 Sunny 80 (June 6-8, 2025)
Sunshine Coast, QLD
Enter here
Both events promise epic trails and unforgettable racing—whether you’re in it to win or just along for the adventure.
