Five adventurous MTB stage races around the world
- Mtb life
- February 16, 2020
Mountain biking is a wonderful way to discover the world. International races in remarkable places can make the experience even more memorable. Here are five events in five striking settings.
Archive article, originally published in February 2020. Distances, stage counts, formats and place names below refer to the versions described at that time. They are not current race specifications or a current entry calendar. Check the organiser for the edition you intend to enter.
1. Alpentour Trophy — Austria
The Austrian race was presented as four stages, 208 km and 8,800 m of ascent, based in the well-known ski resort of Schladming. Starts and finishes were in the resort, except for the uphill time trial, which finished at a mountain hut.
The event included the famous Planai ski slope and was open to elite and amateur riders, racing individually or in pairs. The original presentation listed equal prize money for men and women and UCI S1 classification.
2. BIKE Transalp — Germany and Italy
One of the classic Alpine stage races had to be on this list. The version described started in Germany and finished seven days later in Riva del Garda, covering 624 km and 19,286 m of ascent.
The original notes listed Cortina, Alleghe, San Martino di Castrozza and Levico Terme along the route, and reported ten Bike & More teams preparing for this demanding adventure. Those details belong to that historical edition.
3. Brasil Ride — Brazil
The original presentation described a seven-stage race, 600 km and 12,508 m of ascent, in the landscape of Chapada Diamantina National Park, Bahia, in north-eastern Brazil.
It portrayed a demanding paired event, requiring strong fitness for the long competition and offering substantial singletrack: an adventure for professionals and amateurs alike.
4. Crocodile Trophy — Australia
The historical description presented the Crocodile Trophy as one of the long-established MTB stage races, then classified UCI S1 and allowing individual entries.
Over nine days, 770 km and 17,000 m of ascent, it crossed north-eastern Australia through singletrack, desert landscapes, tropical forest and the Outback, ending at a beach in Port Douglas. Distance, heat and humidity added to the challenge.
5. Transpyr — Spain
This seven-stage, 780 km crossing with 18,000 m of ascent linked the Mediterranean and Atlantic across the Pyrenees. The original version described paired participation, the shorter East and West options, and Transpyr Road for road cyclists using the same stage towns.
For another historical resource, see the 2020 Italian MTB race calendar (in Italian).
