Flight Centre Active Travel Cycle Epic
McEwen Entry Helps Spark Record Field for the Cycle Epic
News Release / 11.09.2013
Queensland’s premier mountain bike marathon the Flight Centre Active Travel Cycle Epic will break its all-time participation record this weekend with more than 2,000 riders in the 11th staging of the event at Spicers Hidden Vale in the Lockyer Valley, west of Brisbane.
Buoyed by the inclusion of retired Australian road racing legend Robbie McEwen in the field, the Epic has easily beaten last year’s record of 1700 competitors.
Epic organiser and track builder Hayden Brooks said the same track would be used for this year’s events and repeat competitors were encouraged to try and beat their time from last year.
Brooks said the popularity of the Hidden Vale Adventure Park as a venue and the success of other events held there – the 3Plus3 before Christmas last year and the Kona 24 hour over Easter - had helped boost interest in the Epic.
“This has been a terrific year for the sport of mountain biking and we have enjoyed great success at our venue which is not only appealing as a course but for the camping and overall ambience,” he said.
“Our focus on attracting more families to the sport and also more female riders has worked well.”
The highlight of the Epic weekend is the 87km marathon on Sunday. The event, which has Flight Centre Active Travel as major sponsor, has been won over the years by some of the biggest names in Australian mountain biking.
The 2012 national marathon champion and cross country series champion Andy Blair is a confirmed starter while triple Tour de France green jersey winner McEwen will also have a crack at the 87km challenge.
“It’s been a great coup for this year’s event to have Robbie involved and he has been tweeting about the Epic to his 100,000 followers,” Brooks said.
“He has recently taken to cyclo-cross racing and will be putting on a CX event on Saturday and he’s also bringing his family along for the weekend.”
Brooks said Shaun Lewis from the ACT is another confirmed entrant in the elite men’s marathon, while the strong women’s field is led by reigning champion and four time winner Jodie Willett of Brisbane.
The Epic weekend has multiple events and activities beyond the 87km marathon, including the 50km Pursuit, the 20km Spicers Chaser, Mini and Minor Epics for children, plus a 4.2km free Family Fun Ride.
The Flight Centre Cycle EPIC is on 14-15 September at Spicers Hidden Vale located at Grandchester, about 55 minutes’ drive from Brisbane.
For more information about the Epic or to register for the event go to: http://www.cycleepic.com.au/ or Facebook fb.com/hiddenvaleadventurepark
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