Port to Port's Queen stage delights the field

There is nothing like tearing into singletrack in a line of hundreds, when you can sstill see the rake marks on the trail for the preparation that the local mountain bike club has done. And that's exactly how it was today on the 3rd stage of the 2017 Port to Port, as the entire fielf hit the trails at Awaba at full tilt.

At 65km, this is the longest stage of the race, and the lap around the trails of Awabareally shows off the work done by Hunter Mountain Bike Association in the past months. Lots of the trails have been cleared up, and others have been cut in.

Riders had a ball throughout, and you could spot colourful cyclists throughout the bush and denser forest the whole time. Recent rain meant rider's tyres were gripping into hero dirt, and the forest was echoing with 'yieews' and the sound of whirring freehubs.

But, it did have to come to an end.

You might know it as a shuttle road, but Mt Faulk road goes way beyond the top of the Awaba DH run, and it's pretty steep. After a quick blast around Awaba we were pointed up hill. Some riders shifted right to their lowest gear, others attacked the climb.

At the front of the race, race leader Brendan Johnston was willing Mark Tupalski to go away with him, but Tupalski admitted later he just didn't have the legs. Instaed the front group remained with the likes of Johnston, Ward, Kelly, Ward v2, Standish and some others. Torq-merifda certainly had the numbers.

In the women's race, while leader Em Viotto was super smooth through the singletrack and hit the climb first, Kathryn McInerney light it up on the climb to reel her in.

Over the top, it's rolling dirt road on the ridgeline, and Viotto was on her own and couldn't capitalise on being in a group like McInerney was able to. She would lose a lot of time.

Singletrack round 2

And then – you hit some older moto trails. They were a bit wet, a bit rutted and a a whole lot of fun. This is where the front group started to break up, and this is where the tired riders suffered, and those who had ridden within themselves were able to open up!

The finish was on and off singletrack, with more twists and turns than you could easily remember. The final descent has settled in well but is still super narrow compared to the opening trails. But it was fun, with loose dirt and tight trees.

The final blast in was on the road, right back to Cooranbong Park, grass, food vans, music and all the people you have been racing with. Everyone was smiling, even the guy who snapped his chain and went over the bars in the finish chute!

Today is a stand out stage for Australian mountain bike racing – it's got a big climb, but it also has a big descent. At 65km, it's long but not too long, and it takes you on a great loop around the mountains. This is truly one of the best stages in Australian mountain bike racing.

While Brendan Johnston took another stage win, McInerney won the women's and took the race lead from Em Viotto. It's all to play for on stage 4.

Full results are online.