THE THIRD CROWN

With the success of the west’s Cape to Cape, and Port to Port in the Hunter Valley and Newcastle, there is now a third event to round out the popular stage race series in Australia. Reef to Reef is coming to Tropical North Queensland in August, and we’re itching to get onto the trails! Stage 1 is going to be a blast around Smithfield, the spiritual home of mountain biking in the tropics. Having hosted two World Championships, the trails have had just about every talented mountain biker carve a line in the red dirt with their tyres – why not add your name to the list? After 30km at Smithfield, Stage 2 has a location up the range at Davies Creek. The trails are often overlooked by riders who head to Atherton, but those in the know appreciate the better flow and faster trails at Davies Creek. There’s 50km on the cards here with a plunge pool nearby to soothe your legs post-ride. Day 3 takes you to Mt Molloy, the outback town on top of the Tablelands. With a course that traipses through two National Parks, expect a day of differences on the longest stage of the event. With 60km to cover you can expect to traverse open bush, cattle trails and rainforest tracks while on the roof of Queensland. The final day brings the biggest reward. With a start at the historical Wetherby Station, the main race has the one-day field join them for the classic RRR route: rural, rainforest and reef. Start on the cattle station, race through the Daintree down the Bump Track, then burn up Four Mile Beach to the finish at Port Douglas – possibly the best finish line you’ll ever cross. Race one day, or race four. Race solo or in a pair. Either way, fly north this August and join as at the first Reef to Reef!