Matt Beers, Hayley Preen, Alison Jackson, Lachlan Morton, Tom Pidcock and Ashleigh Moolman Pasio are some of the big names in contention at the inaugural race. haul engines prevail over the highly varied terrain and circumstance. It’ s an essential quality of stage racing on dirt – surfaces that demand high torque resilience for hours on end, day after day, just below the red line. Long-distance triathletes and 300km + single-day gravel specialists are wellknown for this, and if they can resist the bursts of power that are surely coming from the road pros, they’ d be best served building a week of consistent effort on imperfect terrain.
The roadies
The UCI WorldTour riders make a living from their high redlines and their phoenix-level powers of recovery – not just after a sharp effort on a challenging climb, but also each day, ready for more punishment. Their honed tactical nous, canny positioning and politicking powers will preserve their Watts for the right moments. This race may not be won on a single climb, but in the perfect, decisive moment, impossible to predict, given the days of attrition, before it’ s too late. Success here belongs to those who can think clearly while suffering. Intelligence and experience may prove more important than raw output. Their downfall will be the punishment from the road surfaces, bike handling skills and if they have a mechanical – pro roadies have likely never had to make a repair in a time-pressured situation.
The masters of chaos
Some riders don’ t need a plan, they need an opportunity. They might lose time one day, then gain it back in a masterstroke of mischief. Typical of mountain-bike marathon racers, this type of rider likes to stir it up when others are on the back foot, plus they can fix their own flats in seconds and untwist a chain with their hands tied behind their backs. Matt Beers is that rider, equal parts power station,
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