Dellys Starr at last year's Australian Nationals (Image credit: Mikkeli Godfree)
Registration is now open for the 2007 Australian Mountain Bike Championships for four mountain biking disciplines: cross country, downhill, mountain cross, and trials. The championships will be hotly contested on the newly established courses at the purpose-built AUS$6 million Stromlo Forest Park in Canberra from January 24 - 28, 2007. Over 1,500 competitors and 10,000 supporters and spectators are expected during the four days of competition. The venue is conveniently located only 10 minutes from a major city.
On the back of winning Cycling Australia’s highest honour for cycling events for the 2006, the SCOTT 24hr Australian Mountain Bike Championships, CanberraOff-RoadCyclists (CORC), and Apis Events will again join forces to host the nationals.
Mountain Bike Australia Executive Officer Tony Scott said "Australia's top riders will contest the nationals with an eye on winning the Australian title in their respective discipline. Success at the pinnacle of Australian MTB competition will open up the possibility to be selected on the Australian team to contest the World MTB Championships, which in 2007 will be held in Fort William, Scotland."
CORC president Anthony Burton said that while the elite categories will attract Australia’s best riders, the event is open to all riders from junior (under 15) through to masters and super masters in the over 50’s. "You don’t have to be a professional rider to compete in the nationals," Burton said.
Glen Jacobs, internationally renowned course designer, created the course, which is also the proposed home of the 2009 UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships.
CORC and Apis Events, who form the provisional organising committee for the potential world championships, will discover during the event if Canberra’s bid has been successful. Burton said, "Fingers are crossed that we will be celebrating more than just national titles over the Australia Day long weekend."
Organizers are also looking for volunteers to fill a variety of roles for the week prior to the event, the week of the event and the week following. Volunteers will perform a wide range of important tasks including course marshals, parking and traffic control, race and event installations, administration, timing, merchandise sales and general duties.
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For more information, visit www.nationalseries.com.au or email eventcoord@apisgroup.com.au.
