MTBA Takes Control of 2014 National Mountain Bike Series

Mountain Bike Australia announced today that the 2014 National Mountain Bike Series will be

brought back under MTBA control and delivery. The recent re-structure of Cycling Australia’s

(CA) Commercial and Events team means that the arrangement under which CA delivered the

previous National Series is no longer a financially viable option.

“This provides a great opportunity for MTBA to engage with our clubs and our members to ensure

that a series is delivered which meets the needs of mountain bikers while providing top-level

competition for our best riders as they prepare for the international season.” said MTBA President

Russ Baker. “I am confident that the future development of this delivery model by MTBA will see

a better progression of club, state and national events which will provide fun, development and

competition opportunities for all mountain bikers.”

“Our focus will be on providing great races for the riders, in many ways it will be getting back to the

basics of our sport and providing what our riders want. It is those very basics that make mountain

biking what we all love. I look forward to a successful first round in Adelaide in the new year.”

The 2014 National Mountain Bike Series will use the established venues and dates for rounds 1

and 2, and the downhill component of round 3. There will be no need to change travel plans for

those events. XCO riders will still be able to earn valuable UCI points from all races in the series.

The current MTB National Series Schedule is:

Round 1 – 17-19 January – Eagle Park SA – XCO, XCE, DHI

Round 2 – 7-9 February – Mt Buller VIC – XCO, XCE, DHI

Round 3 – 21-23 February – Thredbo NSW – DHI

The date and location for the third XCO/XCE round is subject to a final confirmation of the

suitability of the course and venue. Some of Australia’s best Elite XC riders and MTBA Staff will

be inspecting courses in the next week and an announcement will be made on the MTBA website

as soon as a decision is made, along with entry details. Russ Baker said, “We must make sure

that the course is worthy of our riders and the standard of competition. The best advice MTBA can

currently give our riders for planning purposes for Round 3 XCO/XCE is that the dates will be

either 22-23 Feb or 1-2 March.”

The 2014 Australian National MTB Championships will be held as announced in Bright VIC on 6-

10 March.

In announcing the transfer of responsibility for delivery of the series, Cycling Australia Interim CEO Adrian Anderson said, “These changes have been undertaken with the best interests of CA, the sport and the mountain bike community top of mind. We would like to thank MTBA for their understanding and willingness to ensure the continuation of the series.”