The Shimano Enduro Tour heads to Blue Derby!
The Shimano Enduro Tour's last stop is Blue Derby - the home for Enduro in Australia?
After putting on a show plenty of times Derby in the north-east of Tasmania will stage the second round of the Asia-Pacific Continental Enduro Series across 16-17 November 2019. The showcase event will also be the final round of the Shimano Enduro Tour, which will play host to a stacked field of elite riders in both male and female categories.
The Asia-Pacific Continental Series will allow riders to gain world ranking points into the 2020 Enduro World Series. The Continental series, which runs across three races in Australia, New Zealand and Thailand culminates with the crowning of the Asia-Pacific Enduro Champions in Thailand on 30 November 2019.
With the Enduro World Series visiting Tasmania earlier this year, Derby was once again crowned with the Best Trail of the year.
Who to watch in Derby
Connor Fearon from South Australia is a regular contender on the World Cup Downhill circut, has also this year been getting some great results on the Enduro bike including a second place at the Derby round in earlier in the year.
Check out Connor's bike from Derby earlier this year.
Meanwhile Jordan Prochyra will be looking for a strong result to take out the win in the Shimano Enduro Tour after besting the field in Round One, held in Western Australia.
Along with crowd favourites, Shimano rider Paul Van Der Ploeg from Mt Beauty, Victoria will be out to keep the local Tasmania spectators entertained with his showboating.
Local Tasmanian athlete Rowena Fry is currently on a winning streak and currently dominating the elite women’s Enduro field in Australia. But she will be kept on her toes in Derby with Shelly Flood on her heals.
Fry recently took out the bronze medal in the elites women’s category at the Enduro World Series in Derby in April.
“Standing on the podium in my own backyard for the Enduro World Series was amazing and I am still on a high. I am really looking forward to racing next weekend and great to see so many female riders racing.”
“The social aspect of the sport alone has toned down the seriousness and creates a really fun weekend on and off the bike. Next weekend will be fun racing on and showcasing my local Derby trails.
“Good luck to all riders racing next weekend in Derby,” said Shimano Australia Brand Manager Toby Shingleton.
“Shimano Australia is excited to see the progression of Enduro in the local market driven by success of the Enduro World Series. With the Shimano Enduro Tour Australian riders have the opportunity not only to progress to the next level but also to enjoy racing in some of the best locations in the country."
With around 200 competitors, the township of Derby, Tasmania, will be transformed into a hive of mountain bike activity. The event will be free to spectators with Tasmania’s with plenty of activity on offer throughout the town.
Entries are still open for all levels of racing across the weekend, including the Challenge 80 category. This category is a shortened more relaxed version of the main categories.
