With a strong south-westerly wind coming in off the sea, the stage was run in a reverse direction, with riders heading north along Ocean Beach with the wind behind them.

The lead group of eight riders hit the beach together, but Max Plaxton soon broke away and established a 20-second gap, and seemed to be in a winning position as he exited the beach and headed back towards Strahan through the dunes. Andrew Blair set up the chase, but broke his chain.

Back on the inland tracks, Taberlay and Paul van der Ploeg gradually closed the gap. With three kilometres to go, Taberlay punctured on a large nail and the overall title seemed to be lost for him. A fast-finishing Van der Ploeg caught Plaxton just before the line, edging him into second place for the stage by four seconds.

Meanwhile, Taberlay, not wanting to lose time by fixing his puncture, continued to ride through to the finish on his wheel rim and held on to first place overall by only two seconds - the closest finish in the history of the Wildside MTB.

In the women's category Jenni King won the final stage from Jessica Douglas by just two seconds. This was the first stage in the event where King had been seriously challenged.

In overall time for the event, King was the women's winner, 20 minutes ahead of Douglas, with Amity McSwan third.

Devonport's Nicholas Yaxley won the overall single speed category in a competitive time of 7:22:21.

Victoria's Kerry Ryan, 70, was the fastest grand master in a time of 7:54:32, two minutes faster than second-placed Bruce Dickey, 62.

West Coast Council Mayor, Daryl Gerrity said at the finish that the Pure Tasmania Wildside MTB was the best organised event on the West Coast and it would return in 2014.

Results: Men's overall - Sid Taberlay 5:53:06, 1; 2. Paul van der Ploeg 5:53:08, 2; Max Plaxton 5:53:57, 3.

Women's overall - Jenni King 7:16:33, 1; Jessica Douglas 7:36:58, 2; Amity McSwan 7:49:27, 3.