Launceston cyclists Jody Bush and Ben Mather will compete in the Pure Tasmania Wildside MTB later this month. WORLD-CLASS wilderness will set the scene for Australia's top cross-country mountain bike stage race later this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Pure Tasmania Wildside MTB, launched yesterday at Country Club Tasmania, will see 450 riders race from Cradle Mountain Chateau to Strahan Village on January 25.
Tasmanian-born Sid Taberlay is the favourite to win the four-day race, while the women's event is leading to a three-way battle between Victoria's Jenni King, current Marathon MTB champion Emma Coulson and Launceston's Rowena Fry.
Tasmanian multi-sport athlete Ben Mather is a likely challenger to Taberlay's five-year streak.
Mather said the event was part of every elite mountain bike rider's calendar.
``If I'm on the podium, I'll be happy this year,'' he said.
Riders compete in seven competition stages linked by three cruising stages through the 200-kilometre ride.
Environment, Parks and Heritage Minister Brian Wightman said Tasmania could pitch itself as the nation's adventure capital.
``There's a hell of a lot of Tasmania that can be experienced and those parks allow that,'' Mr Wightman said.