Round 4 of the SHIMANO MTB GP Series was held at Stromlo Forest Park in Canberra on Saturday, 15 August. A brisk winter morning in Canberra turned into a brilliantly sunny day and riders from all over NSW and the ACT enjoyed the four and seven hour competitions on the 10km-race course set out. In the 4-hour event, Sydney’s Briony Mattocks and Andrew Lloyd from Newcastle took out the overall solo wins with the Novocastrian increasing his series lead in the men’s.
Mattocks finished 8 laps strongly in 4:33.08 ahead of fellow Sydney-rider Wendy Stevenson (-1 lap) and Kim Smith from Wright (-1 lap).
Local riders from Canberra had the home advantage and turned up in good numbers with the ONYA Bike Canberra pairs team of Lewy Cressy and Bradley Morton winning the four hour race overall. Local racer Ed McDonald dominated the men’s solo field, even taking out the line-honours with most laps completed right on the seven hour mark: 14 laps in 7:00.46.
Meg Gillmer from Sydney claimed her first seven-hour race win with 10 laps in 6:53.16. With Melinda Holmes (3rd in women’s solo GC) and Charlie McCabe two Central Coast racers are taking over the women’s general classifications in the seven and four hour series rankings.
Riders line-up at sign-on in front of the spectacular Stromlo surrounds in Canberra.
Race start at Stromlo Forest Park for Round 4 of the SHIMANO MTB Grand Prix Series – 4 and 7 hour riders head out onto the 10km circuit.Meg Gillmer – first 7-hour race solo, first race GC race win at the SHIMANO MTB GP!Ed McDonald, the smooth local racer takes advantage of knowing every corner of his home track – takes outright GP7 Hour race win at the Shimano MTB Grand Prix Round 4 at Stromlo Forest Park.Andrew Lloyd increased his series lead in the 4H GC of the SHIMANO MTB GP at Stromlo – two Rounds to go!Briony Mattocks, the Sydney XC-whippet makes all the right moves at Stromlo to win the women’s solo general classification (GC) at Round 4!A focused Charlie McCabe races consistently to grab enough points to take over the women’s solo GC series lead in the 4H competition!Melinda Holmes – joins fellow Central Coast rider Charlie McCabe as women’s series leader! She now heads up the 7H GC solo women’s ranking with two rounds to go!
Impressions from the race – all images by OuterImage.com.au
Briony Mattocks and Meredith Quinlan from Sydney looking forward to hitting the Stromlo trails. Rocky Trail picked some of the favourite sections!Paul from FlowBikes.com.au – heading up the Mondraker racing team together with Anton and supporting Rocky Trail racers with technical support throughout the year.Gloryfy – the unbreakable glasses “Made in Austria” are protecting Rocky Trail racers and making them look good too!Alice King and Ben Cirulis – winning MIxed Pair in the GP7H.Perfect hand-over in between laps by the Over Yonder Team by Alice King and Ben Cirulis. That’s how it’s done!Race director Martin Wisata from Rocky Trail with MC and racing crew member, Paul “Crafty” Craft.Our biggest rewards – smiling #rockytrailracers at the start and finish lines!Winners are grinners – Rocky Trail’s SHIMANO MTB GP gives you sponsor goodies before the race and if you pick the right ticket, you have the chance for a major prize – here are our winners of the SHIMANO wheel-set and a Magellan Cyclo 500 device.
The track is marked and you can practice on it but we wont have any services (marshals or first aid). Please respect any trail closures if there is an Academy Event in progress.
From 3:00 PM
On The Day
TIME
Registration Open
7:30 - 8:45 AM
Rider call up, be race ready. The official rider briefing usually held before the race start will be available online before the race.
8:45 AM
Race Start
9:00 AM
Race Finish Finish the lap you are on but can't start a new one.
1:00 PM
Last Rider and Sweeper across the line and event finishes.
1:30 PM
Presentation Ceremony
From 1:30 PM
(This is not compulsory to attend - rolling presentations will be held throughout the event with podium wall photos and rewards.)
CATEGORIES
Your Age group will automatically be assigned during the registration process based on your Year of Birth.
These cross-country events are normally run on an 8-10km circuit for solo racers and pairs. The solo rider or relay team in their respective categories/age groups with the most amount of laps completed in the least amount of time within the racing window, wins.
These events aim to reward as many riders as possible with prizes at each event and across the series. There are age-group and eBike category podiums. Racers receive a placing in their age category and the events present four specialty Awards including KOM/QOM, Fastest Laptimes for adults and juinior as well as an GC Title for the Male and Female Heroes. The races also offer eBike categories in the Adventure distance.
Who can race it?
Make this a smashfest, show off your sponsor logos, re-kindle your love for XC racing or catch the racing bug with us! From the first time between the tape to people that have spent a lifetime training for power output, we have you covered when you line up at the Rocky Trail start line! You will all enjoy the community spirit and classic XC racing thrill that Rocky Trail Entertainment delivers like no other – be a #rockytrailracer!
This is less of a winners-only-focused competition, but a positive and inclusive experience for all racers.
If you are at the pointy end of GP/XC/Enduro or sponsored, don't stress, we are building a overall points and ranking system to ensure if you are there to race, you can still have the fun you want. Each race is sure to test your endurance, skill and determination!
Your Shimano MTB GP® registration includes the following:
Personalised Race Plate with timing chip & results QR
Entry into your state Shimano MTB GP® series
Live Timing throughout the event
Free photos of you on track by professional crew of photographers
Free giveaways
Professional First Aid
Race Starters on all stages
Event Marshalls
Event Village with music and race commentary
Food, Coffee & Drinks Vendors
Neutral Service / Repairs
Sponsor Expo & Demonstrations
LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTEER AND SUPPORT COMMUNITY EVENTS?
The Rocky Trail MTB events provide a perfect option for people who love to be outdoors and part of a friendly happy community. Many roles are available and we can find a match for you!
If you want to become part of the crew as a volunteer at some (or many) of our events let us know by filling out the form below and our Volunteers Coordinator and Event Manager Jo Parker will be in touch.
Parking attendees – early start but just a short shift that makes such a difference to the operation of our events
Course Marshalls – stationary or roving on your bike. Enjoy watching the competitors on track and keeping everyone safe. Short and long shifts available
Sweep Riders – Morning or Afternoon – check the track in the morning before racing or clear the track at the end of the day. Perfect for someone who loves riding but not competing
Registration/Village support – general helper in the Event Hub
Timing support and helping the riders
Kids activity support – depending on the event support activations on the day
Pack down – help clear course markings after racing – can be on foot or riding
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
Helping your local community
Snacks and drinks
Discount entry to future events
Access to Rocky Trail Rewards Program (get access to the online portal to grab current offers from sponsors and supporters)
How Does It Work?
The Distance:
We will be aiming for 25km (Challenge), 50km (Adventure) and 75km (Hero) for the event to still be concluding around the 4-hour cut-off time.
The Tracks
We aim to create 8-10km cross-country circuits and three different distance classifications: Challenge (shortest), Adventure (middle) and Hero (longest) distance classifications.
Mass Start & Start Lap
Its the famous Shimano GP mass start with solo and pairs riders going bar to bar before the single track. E-bikers will start in a second wave and our eBike Policy applies.
Solo or Pairs
Ride solo for the ultimate challenge or hit the trails as a pair (hero) and have double the fun, the choice is yours!
How many laps?
The number of laps required to be completed in each distance classification will be based on the terrain and conditions of each race track – therefore vary per event!
Podiums
Podiums are awarded to first, second and third place in ALL age group categories including ebike specific categories.
Always respect other riders no matter their skill, speed, age or gender
Start: There will be one mass start. Riders will be able to self-seed.
Duration: Riders have 4 hours to complete their laps. Riders will not be able to start another lap after the 4 hours of elapsed time but may finish the lap they are on.
Completion: If a rider fails to complete the number of laps signed up in the to do in 4 hours, they will be ranked based on the time taken and the number of laps they did complete and will be recorded in the results as “-n Laps”.
Transition: A transition lane will be provided for pairs racers after the finish line. The to transition to the next rider the teams’ wheels must cross on a plane perpendicular to the direction of the trace track. There is no need for physical touch.
Rider down procedure: probably the most important rule of all: if you come to an accident out on the track you MUST stop and make sure the rider is ok. If he/she is not, stay with him/her and send the next rider straight back to the event centre to let us know what happened. If you lose time while helping an injured rider we will adjust your lap time at the end of the race. The race directors phone number is on every race plate. We recommend you carry a mobile phone.
Passing: being friendly out on the track goes a long way. Let the rider you are about to pass know when and on which side. E.g. “rider coming up, passing on your right when you are ready”. Then say thanks and keep on smashing it. If you are riding in a train let the rider in front know how many people will pass him/her. If you are being passed, find the next best place to move to the side and let them pass.
PAIRS: Only one rider in a pair is allowed on the track at any one time. Pairs riders must complete equal or close to equal number of laps
If you leave the track you must return to the same point before continuing your race
Outside assistance is only allowed within the transition/pit area. Outside assistance can be provided by other riders whilst out on track.
No shortcutting or “local lines” outside the bunted track
All bikes and rider safety equipment must comply with the Australian Standards
eBikes must be unmodified and comply with current Australian standards. Read more about our eBike policy here…
All riders must agree to a Race Waiver when they sign up online or at the race on-site
All Shimano GP events are part of Rocky Trail’s cross-country racing line-up of events and in 2023 we are implementing our “Pace Points System”.
Competitors will be able to accumulate points across all our cross-country events, including our marathon and ultra-endurance events. A pace-based algorithm developed by Rocky Trail will produce an innovative ranking output and you may just score big with Pace Points!
You’ll be able not only to reach your goals but to earn Rocky Trail Rewards too!
All Rocky Trail events have the Ecotourism Australia Nature Certification status. This ECO Certification program is a world first and it has been developed to address the need to identify genuine nature and ecotourism operators. This means that with Rocky Trail you are guaranteed to be part of a genuine and authentic trail-based nature experience that looks after the environment.
Our Sustainability Pledge – We encourage our racers to follow some simple tips to ‘tread softly’ when visiting the bush and minimise damage to the natural environment. These guidelines are laid out in our Sustainability Policy and will be communicated and encouraged via Rider Briefings and at the events.
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