The Race: Tasmania Wildside by Bruce Turvey

Our resident house Swazi Frontiers Pedal Studio Mountain Bike Champ writes exclusively for Pedal Studio as his adventures diverts his attention from Swaziland and the Cape Epic to ''Down'Under'-the-Under''. Feel free to drop him a line and ask him questions. Some say he is a rower, others a herd boy from Africa. Oxford University (Mpumalanga) have conveyed and English award - all we know is ...... he is the Sturve.

Continued from Tasmania Wildside Mountain Bike Race - Getting there by Bruce Turvey


Why I say “sort of,” is because there is still a considerable amount of work to be done once you’ve snuck in to Australia undetected. One night in Sydney with mates, staring at the ceiling while trying to sleep cos its roughly 2pm in the arvie back home – and we were back at the airport heading for Tasmania.

No shortage of luggage juggling, overweight fines and expletives and the okes were on the plane to Taz. We were warned about this place... apparently there is a lot of cousin humping going on in the area, people are known to have scars on their necks from where their second head was removed and some, it’s said, even have kneecaps growing out their foreheads. But we weren’t intimidated by all this talk, cos we are from South Africa, and we have places like Benoni, Oribi Village, Belfast and Cape Town.

We made it to Launceston International airport in Taz unscathed, managed to get past the organic material, fruit and nut sniffer dog, into the rental car and we were heading for Cradle Mountain and the start of the dice.

After another solid 4 hour sleep cos of jetlag issues, we were up and ready for our first race.

Before I relate the events of the day, it’s probably important to explain the format of the race. It’s a four day event consisting of 140km of competition and 60km of cruising on some superb Tassie track. On average, there were two race stages per day varying between 10 and 38kms. So a bit of something for everyone, though pretty brisk riding is required to stay anywhere near the top guys.

Not hot in the morning due to our proximity to the Antarctic, but pleasant enough. We started with a cruise stage through some interesting moonscape pieces of Tazzie. Pretty tranquil if one were to ignore the prolific wallaby roadkill acting as speed bumps to unsuspecting riders. After a useful warmup we were in the starting blocks for Race 1. Luckily I got lumped in B group, they had groups of 35 riders and reseeded at the end of each stage of day one. Our race briefing on the start was “mind the first right hand turn round that tree (pointing), it can cause wipeouts.” It was very heartening to see the two guys at the front of A bunch slide out round the bend and take a few riders with them, not strong on hearing these Aussies.

The speed is furious, being only an 18km stage you have to commit with all you got. I was loving the BMX, super sprint like riding – until I got the lung burn, like I’d slapped a tot of pool acid into a hubbly bubbly and inhaled deeply. But what a feeling. I may have mistimed my run a bit given the fatigue I was feeling by the end of the stage – but it went well enough and I got reseeded into the front of B group. Great variation of surfaces and surroundings, not that you get to take it in much, but superb riding. This stage was followed by a cruise to the lunch spot where there was a great feed waiting for us – everything impressively laid on. The sight of a temporary bikers refugee camp in the middle of nowhere is quite a thing.

Very chilled for a few hours before the start of Race 2. A great racy piece of single track with a bit of everything for the lads; sharp ascents and descents with some super fast flat riding. Timing your charge is key, going too early and one can pay. Due to the short stages, the speed of each leg is probably what makes it so enjoyable. I was leading B group quite nicely until I took a wrong turning (don’t ask) – but finished in the top couple. Well tired but satisfied. Enjoyed the cruise into Tullah, completely blown on the ride in.

The city of Tullah is something else, a smaller mining town you have never seen (until day 2; Zeehan which has to be seen to be believed). Nestled against Lake Tullah, it provides a well tranquil spot to enjoy some beers and the humour of prize giving. End of day one, what a peach........