The Redback returns to Alice Springs this August
Itching to get between the tape, travel, ride with friends or bask in the warm sun? Tick, tick, tick and tick with The Redback.
If you're used to heading to a couple of great mountain bike events each year, 2020 has probably been quite different. There's a lot of change right now, and late July and August are seeing a whole bunch of events starting up again. From the Shimano MTB GP and Rocky Trail Superflow events, to the Convict 100 and more. For some, the big news is the that Rapid Ascent will be running The Redback MTB stage race as planned on Thursday 20 to Sunday 23 August 2020.
For a lot of riders, events are about the travel and riding somewhere new, and The Redback really delivers with the mix of trails that the stage race uses in Alice Springs. Following the recent announcement by the NT Chief Minister that the Northern Territory borders will open from July 17, and with mass gatherings in the NT set at 500 people, Rapid Ascent are eager to welcome people back to the NT and restart racing with this iconic event.
The catch? Rapid Ascent need to get to a minimum of one hundred six-stage race entries by July 27. As a small events business, Rapid Ascent have navigated the pandemic on the edge and are determined to survive the storm to get their events back on the calendar. All entrants will receive a 100% refund on entry fees if numbers are not reached.
“The opening of NT borders is fantastic news not only for Rapid Ascent Events, but for the mountain biking community, NT tourism and all associated industries,” said Rapid Ascent General Manager Sam Maffett.
“We are very confident we can preserve riders’ health and safety whilst still conducting a fantastic NT racing experience. We think The Redback provides an ideal post-COVID MTB holiday,” added Maffett.
As for the required minimum numbers, Maffett was matter of fact.
“We are committed to The Redback but we cannot accept the risk of going ahead ‘at-any-cost’ so ask riders to confirm their entries in enough time for us to make it happen. So we encourage mountain bikers and groups of mates to come out of hibernation and experience the magic of the Red Centre’s rolling single tracks.” said Maffett.
With six stages of mountain biking over four days, The Redback has a 13 year history and 2020 sees a makeover including new stages, new trails, longer rides and plenty of sunshine. Probably just what you're looking for if you're in a southern state.
The Stages
Stage 1 – 36km – Thursday (AM)
Stage 2 – Rapid Ascent 300m ANZAC Hill Climb – Thursday (PM)
Stage 3 – 47km Cross Country Race – Friday (AM)
Stage 4 – 22km Individual Time Trial – Saturday (AM)
Stage 5 – 22km Night Race – Saturday (PM)
Stage 6 – Mercure Alice Springs Resort 51km Cross Country Race – Sunday (AM)
With a central location this is an event where the need for a hire car is zero. Get a shuttle to your hotel and you can access all stages and all amenities from there. But why not stay a little longer and take in some sights around Alice Springs as well?
For more information about The Redback 2020 please visit the event website.
