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After the postponement of the original race due to severe weather conditions and drastic flooding on the rural outback course, the 22nd RRR Mountain Bike Challenge was held today in Tropical North QLD.

Well regarded as one of Australia’s most exciting and challenging ‘point to point’ endurance races, the iconic 35km and 70km events lived up to the ‘RRR’ expectations. Over 450 participants lined up at the Mt Molloy race line to make their way through the incredible diverse terrain to the famous Four Mile Beach, Port Douglas finish line.

Course designer, Peter Blakey has worked diligently for the last year recreating the new and improved race start at Wetherby Station, Mt Molloy, to further incorporate the ‘rural’ to the ‘RRR’. The riders lined up at the start line on the original Bump track, which was the main bullock track from Port Douglas to the gold fields during the gold rush days around the 1870's. In the 70km race, a 6km start loop took riders around a small part of the property, then brought them back through the start line to the cheers of supporters.

“Wetherby Station was the perfect race venue as we got to use the rural elements in the course, featuring the cattle grates, bump track and revisited the old original homestead. There is no other Mountain Biking race in Australia that can boast a course like ours,” said Blakey.

In the 70km race, 19 yr old Nelson Tilley (Townsville, QLD) pedaled fast across the Four Mile Beach finish line to beat local Cairns rider, Dominic Hoyal.

“What an awesome course change. The new start at the station was fast and interesting. I loved that you got to loop back through and get a cheer from the spectators watching.

“Dom and I were on each others tail for most of the course. I knew he was hungry for the win but after racing and winning the 70km in a previous year, I came back to North QLD to win the title,” said Tilley.
In the women's 70km race events it was local lady Lauretta Howarth that crossed the line dusty and dirty but happy to be done.

First female to cross the line for the 35km challenge was the 2011 winner, Josephine Zammit from Innisfail, QLD.
“I continue to compete in this event and every year it just keeps getting better. The new start is so memorable. Wetherby Station has so much history and to be riding through the paddocks across the rural settings is like no other race in Australia,” added Zammit.

With winding 4-wheel drive trails, shocking single track and steady climbs, from the highest peaks, riders pass isolated waterfalls, hundred year old rainforest trees and the occasional cassowary – there is no doubt that three very diverse terrains are dominated and enjoyed.

RRR Mountain Bike Challenge Results

70KM Male - Top 3 Across the Line
1st	Nelson Tilley	Elite Category	2:44:19
2nd	Dominic Hoyal	Elite Category	2:44:33
3rd	Jeffrey Rubach	Veteran Category	2:45:22
70KM Female - Top 3 Across the Line
1st	Lauretta Howarth	Elite Category	3:46:23
2nd	Kathy Hill	Masters Category	3:59:20
3rd	Simone Wagner	Masters Category	4:32:32
35KM Male - Top 3 Across the Line
1st	Bart Duraj	Veteran Category	1:21:47
2nd	Paul Guy	Veteran Category	1:23:46
3rd	Brett Jeffery	Veteran Category	1:23:46
35KM Female - Top 3 Across the Line
1st	Josephine Zammit	Elite Category	1:43:36
2nd	Natalie McNamee	Veteran Category	1:47:36
3rd	Karlee Gibson	Junior Category	1:49:51

 

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