XC National Championship Course Set To Roll Back The Years

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Cross-country riders competing at the 2023 AusCycling Mountain Bike National Championships in Thredbo can expect a course they will be talking about for all the right reason’s according to one of the country’s most experienced riders.

Canberra’s Andy Blair, has been working with the Thredbo and AusCycling events team to make sure the National Championships course is worthy of the name.

And what he’s seen so far has him very excited.

“We are going to ensure this course showcases the natural beauty of the Alpine area and ensure people have memorable experience racing the trails we’ve included.”

“But make no mistake this is going to be hard with the distance just over 5km and 220 metres of climbing per lap, you will need to be an all-rounder,” Blair said.

“While it might be longer, we wanted to make it a fun track and also to get all those great trails for riders.”

“The longer trail also means less people will get lapped and that it can facilitate multiple categories on course at one time.”

The organising team considered four start/finish areas, but it would be Friday Flat that proved the most suitable area logistically and allowed for all the infrastructure and space needed to host an event of this size.

XC Riders at Thredbo
Photo Credit: Nick Waygood

“I think people will be really surprised. The events team are going to build up a great atmosphere for those few days of XC racing.

“It also was the only real area that could accommodate a national championships start and finish area,” he said.

The last national championships to be held at the venue was in 1996.

And it’s the history that will be the shining star with the iconic Meadow’s walking track included which Blair believes could be the game changer in the race.

The combination of more modern flowy trails and then the technical old school trails will challenge all the riders, as they take on the creeks, gullies, rock steps and twisty iconic alpine terrain.

The first riders to get a taste of the National Championships course will be the Adaptive riders on Thursday 9 February.

You can view the full schedule here.

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