In it to win it - Australians best line up for Marathon National Championships

Hundreds of mountain bike riders will descend on Derby, Tasmania this weekend to race in the 2015 Cross Country Marathon (XCM) National Championships, presented by Mountain Bike Australia .

Derby, a small riverside village located in North East Tasmania, has some of the best trails in Australia and MTBA CEO Shane Coppin said that riders should expect some amazing riding. “The trails in Derby are first class,” he said.”Tasmania has a great range of exhilarating trails and mountain bike challenges for riders. “It is thrilling to bring a National Championships to a town with historical interest and I am confident this will bring some special character to the event.”

Headlining the elite men’s race will be 2014 XCM National Champion Andy Blair (ACT) and World 24hr Solo Mountain Bike Champion Jason English (NSW), who have both alternated wins of the XCM Championship in the past few years. ACT’s Brendan Johnston, Tasmania’s Ben Bradley and previous national marathon champions Murray Spink (VIC) and Ben Mather (TAS) will also be tough competitors to beat.

In the elite women’s race, last year’s National Champion Mel Anset (VIC) will no doubt be looking to repeat her win, but hot on her heels will be Jenny Blair (ACT).Despite being first across the line at last year’s Championships, Blair could not take home the green and gold jersey as she was still an Irish citizen, so the Derby race will present her first chance to win an Australian Championships.

Last year’s National Series Champion Jenni King (VIC) and reigning Crocodile Trophy Champion Imogen Smith (NSW) will also be top contenders, as will Briony Mattocks, who is currently ranked second in the XCM National Series, Eliza Kwan (ACT) and Sarah Riley (VIC).

In the U19 Category, local rider Alex Lack will be one to watch, a rising star who has recently been chosen to represent Australia at the 2015 UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships.Elite men and women will race on Sunday, 17 May at 8:30am and 8:45am respectively, while Masters and Junior categories will all race on Saturday, 16 May from 10am.

Entry is free for all and spectators will be treated to a variety of entertainment over the weekend, including local food stalls and live music from the popular acoustic duo, Clay Soldier.

The Dance with the Devil – XCM National Championships is being delivered by a joint partnership between MTBA, Dorset Council and Launceston Mountain Bike Club.

These Championships are also a key qualifying criteria for riders to be named on the Australian team for the annual UCI Marathon World Championships.

Words: MTBA Photos: Various