A year after staging Australia’s inaugural involvement in the series, news that it will return in 2019 cements Derby’s place on the planet’s mountain biking map.

Despite fierce competition from several mainland locations, the bike-mad North-East township will stage Round 2 of the 2019 season on March 30.

Organisers said after the “hugely successful” 2017 event that “put the region in the top tier of mountain biking destinations worldwide”, it was an easy decision to return for the next Australian visit.

Event director Ian Harwood said that return of the EWS as well as the second-tier Continental Series to be held in November of 2018, will attract 500 riders, thousands of spectators and a strong contingent of international media. 

“Everyone had so much fun, despite some challenging weather, I am sure that this news will be welcomed by all of the teams and riders that make up the Enduro World Series,” he said.

“It is expected that the event will continue to grow with the addition of a kids’ event as well as an expanded challenger race for amateur riders.”

Launceston Chamber of Commerce also welcomed the news.

“This is fantastic for Derby and Northern Tasmania,” said executive officer Neil Grose. “The event in 2017 was sensational and placed Blue Derby firmly on the world stage as a first-class mountain bike destination.”

The 2017 event saw an economic impact to the area of more than $1.5 million with visitor numbers almost doubling since the announcement of the event.

Derby also won the coveted EWS trail of the year award in 2017 for stage 2 Detonate with its signature feature chute between two towering boulders.

“To have the event returning in 2019 is a great credit to Dorset Council and their vision to create Blue Derby as one of the top five mountain bike destinations in the world,” Grose added.

“The economic impact of the event will be felt far wider than just the North East of Tasmania.

“Mountain biking is one of the great success stories of the boom in tourism. Cyclists are high yield visitors who spend significantly more than the average tourist.”

Brisbane-based Event Management Solutions Australia, which also ran last year’s mountain bike world championships in Cairns, will again deliver the event.

The EWS sees riders tackle a range of stages with combined times determining the overall winner.