The JetBlack WSMTB 12 Hour mountain bike race will be run for the third time at the Dargle Farm property near Windsor on 11 August. Organisers Rocky Trail are expecting 400-500 mountain bikers at the start line of the popular Sydney endurance race, including Jason English and Jessica Douglas, the two reigning Australian 24H Solo Elite World Champions.
It’s a working cattle and turf farm for most of the year, but once a year Rocky Trail Entertainment transforms Dargle Farm into a pumping mountain bike event center, reviving the infamous 10 km tracks near Windsorfor a 12 hour endurance race with major sponsor JetBlack Cycling and the hosting Western Sydney MTB Club.
The race will start at 9am and riders will head out onto the infamous 10km Dargle Farm track, just across from the Hawkesbury river. Solo as well as team riders will power through the morning and pedal across the lush meadows and flowy trails in the pristine bushland before throwing themselves onto a thrilling descent into the pumping event centre. To fight the winter chill organisers have promised to set up a massive bonfire roaring right in the middle of it all and to put on a show with funky DJ tunes so riders can skip to the Euro-style beats while they're in the transition zone.
Jason English to defend title
Jason English from Port Macquarie will be defending his three-year long standing elite men’s title at the JetBlack WSMTB 12 Hour again and at the start line he will be joined by his fellow 24-Hour Solo World Champion, Jessica Douglas from Forrest in Victoria. While Jason won the 24H Solo World Championships for the third time, Jessica claimed elite women’s title for the second time earlier this year in Finale Ligure, Italy.
English is said to make the event at Dargle Farm part of his preparation for the next 24H World Championships in Canada. “The JetBlack WSMTB 12 Hour is something I wouldn't want to miss in the world. This has always been a great event put on by the Rocky Trail guys", he said this week.
Jessica Douglas, one of Australia’s most successful female mountain bike racers said, “I’ve heard so much about this race already, I can't wait to ride it."
The race track will close at 9pm with the last finishers expected to cross the finish line around 9.45pm and the ceremony to commence at 10pm.
Partner event of the Crocodile Trophy
It has also been confirmed that the JetBlack WSMTB 12 Hours has once again been awarded event partner status by the International Crocodile Trophy race. Rocky Trail Entertainment have been ambassadors for the 10-day stage race in Far North Queensland and at their own Dargle Farm event, they will be giving away a free entry to the Crocodile Trophy this year.
“We find the giveaway is a really nice fit, because we will have almost 10 Crocodile Trophy finishers at the start line at Dargle Farm – including Jessica Douglas who won the Women’s category in 2011. Only a few riders put up their hand for it every year and the fastest rider will get the ticket to race at the hardest mountain bike stage race in the world”, said organizer Martin Wisata, who will participate in the Crocodile Trophy for the third time himself in October this year.
Race participants can register online at www.rockytrailentertainment.com, entry for spectators is free.
Photo: Jason English on track at Dargle Farm set to defend his titles at the JetBlack WSMTB 12 Hour race. Credit: Rocky Trail/Neil Thompson.