Sport
14 August, 2024
Bike riders relieved
TOUTED as Australia’s newest epic mountain bike stage, the four day 2024 Reef to Reef event certainly stamped its authority as a total crowd pleaser with weary but cheerful competitors finishing on the picture postcard back ground of Four Mile Beach at Port Douglas.
Discovery Cycles team member Kaito Levielle said: “It was a great course, however, after four days in the saddle, seeing the finishing line on the beach in Port Douglas was a welcome site.”
The event organisers had assured competitors that there was nothing too technical, however they did advise that there was around 2000m of vertical climbing to get every one’s attention.
Competitors could choose to take on the full four-day challenge or the one-day triple R classic option which still allowed cyclists to arrive at Port Douglas and join in the finishing festivities on the Sunday.
The great thing about the Reef to Reef is you do not have to be a battle-scarred mountain bike warrior to compete.
If you have a reasonable level of fitness and fundamental mountain bike handling skills this event, though challenging, is totally do-able.
It is classed as a race, however it is up to the individual if they wish to ride the tyres off their bikes or take a more leisurely approach with a few more beer stops included than the pros.
The four-day event started within sight of the Coral Sea before quickly heading inland across a network of trails through the Tablelands, hinterlands, farmlands and mountain bike parks with the event threading its way through tropical rainforest before heading back towards the coast days later.
Four Mile Beach proved once again to be the perfect backdrop to reward competitors as they completed their two-wheel adventure with the shimmer of the cool water and a well-deserved cold beer welcoming them. The 2024 Reef to Reef offered a variety of classes to enter from solo to teams events with all competitors, organisers and the volunteers making this event a real classic event that will see many set to return to the region year once more in 2025.
Full results are available at https://bit.ly/3WyrA9U
