EWS Tasmania. Enduro MTB racing comes back to Derby
/Locals guide to the 2023 EWS Derby Tasmania.
It’s back in 2023… after a couple of years delay the biggest riders in Enduro MTB are coming to Derby, and it’s going to be HUGE!
The EWS is back in 2023, with Round two again being held in Derby. Keep your calendar free on 1-2 April and head to Derby for all the action. Although the stages won’t be announced until a couple of days before the race, there are a few certainties for the weekend, and below is a guide to the best places to see the action up close.
The Blue Derby trail network is easy to get around which makes it a great place to get up and close to the riders. Take your bike or go on foot directly from your accommodation in Derby.
This post will tell you how to get to the EWS trails in Derby, which of the trails we think will be in EWS Tasmania and what to expect from the event in 2023.
During the race weekend it’s important to remember that large sections of the trail network is not open to non-competitors. Spectators must stay off the trails and be aware that riders may come down the track unexpectedly. Stay safe and stay off the trails during the race.
There are many good places to watch the action which can be accessed by leaving you bike close by and walking to the trails themselves.
For more info on the race keep an eye on the Enduro Tasmania instagram or for entries visit the EWS website
What is EWS Derby?
The Blue Derby network covers over 125km of trails, but the EWS will feature between 5-7 stages of racing. Riders will start and finish at the Blue Derby trailhead and make their way to the start of each stage via the trail network.
Competitors will have a limited opportunity to practice each stage before the race (usually just one or two runs), and once they start on race day they will need to be self-sufficient with no outside assistance or shuttles to take them around the stages. The competitor with the fastest (lowest) overall time across all of the downhill stages will be the winner. The time it takes the riders to get to the stages doesn’t count, however they must get to the start of each stage within their allocated time. The riding between the stages is called the liaison…
Men and women compete on the same course, which features technical challenges and difficult riding. Although some technical sections may have ‘B’ lines the race course is marked with tape which the riders must stay within, or they face a time penalty or disqualification.
In 2019 we saw a special (Pro) stage on the Saturday afternoon, which gave crowds a taste of the action and set the tone for what was a big day of racing on the Sunday. This stage counts towards the overall time, and additional competition points are on offer for the winners (male and female)
In 2023 we expect to see a similar line-up of stages for the race, with a couple of key differences. After heavy rain in October 2022 parts of the network suffered some erosion damage with the most significant damage occurring on the lower part of ‘Air Ya Garn’.
As a result of this we don’t expect the lower part of this trail to feature in the Pro stage.. however there is plenty of riding in the upper part and this could still host riders. The race organisers will want to find a trail for the special stage which brings riders back close to the town, so alternatives could be Trouty, Return to Sender or perhaps a new trail or trails are built in time for the race (!). Watch this space…
Wyn Masters and Martin Maes both were in action for GT in 2019, but in 2023 we will see a different line-up with Maes racing for Orbea and Wyn taking time off for the birth of his first child.
Get close the riders - Derby EWS
With easy access on foot from the Cascade shuttle road - Air Ya Garn is a great place to see riders testing themselves on this classic Derby Trail. In 2019 (above) we saw big crowds packed in just below the upper part of the the trail as well as in the special zone lower down, which hosted a pop-up Little Rivers bar! Access was simple with many spectators walking up the shuttle road, riding their bikes up or catching a shuttle and walking down. We would expect in 2023 that shuttle access will be limited (due to crowd size), so the best way to get around the course is going to be on your bike.
Derby Shuttles - EWS
Local businesses - Vertigo, Mad MTB and Premium MTB Transfers will all be open for business during the 2023 EWS Derby period. With demand expected to be very high visitors should ensure they book shuttles or transfers will in advance.
What is the Enduro World Series?
The Enduro World Series represents the ultimate combination of racing and adventure, where riders encounter the most physically and technically challenging mountain bike trails in the world. Enduro races are made up of multiple downhill stages, which are timed to generate the event's result, while the uphills are 'liaisons'. Here, riders have to reach the start of the next stage within a time limit but, providing a rider meets that time limit, the actual time doesn't contribute to the final result.
Sam Hill (above) from Australia is the only person to have won the EWS overall competition three times (2017,18,19)
Detonate - EWS Trail of the Year
One trail which will almost certainly be part of the 2023 EWS Derby will be Detonate. For those who haven’t ridden the track you have almost certainly seen a photo of the iconic rock crack, which is just as impressive in person as it is in the photos.
Just wider than a MTB handlebars (800mm+ bars need not apply) this section of the trail will test the best riders from around the world as well as any locals who choose to take it on.
Located roughly half way into the trail, this section can be difficult to get to during the race… so we suggest walking up from the five ways section of the Derby trail network to some of the lower sections of Detonate.
Roughest ride in Derby - Shear Pin
It might not have the iconic crack of Detonate, the big hucks of Air ya Goin or the profile of Trouty, but Shear Pin is one of the most demanding and technical tracks that will feature in the EWS Derby. From start to finish this trail tests the limits of bikes and riders. With access from Black Stump (Via the start of Flickety Sticks) this track is a good one for keen spectators to see races dropping in.
The upper rock garden (shown above) come almost straight away and is sure to challenge racers who aren’t bringing their a-game to Derby. Find a spot to watch beside of the track and you are guaranteed to see some action on race day.
With tricky rollovers and sharp edge rocks - Shear Pin has inflicted damage to both riders and expensive wheesets. The sound of spokes pinging and shocks squishing is often interrupted by the noise of a close save, a near miss or (hopefully not) a big crash.
Trouty - the skyline to the town
It might be last on our list of trails to head to on race day but Trouty is a fan and local favourite which will almost certainly feature a big turnout on race day. Easily accessed directly from the main highway (be sure to stay out of riders way) this stage has previously been the last or penultimate stage of the race. With a dramatic location, perched on the side of a steep ridge, Trouty is a fitting way for the EWS to visit Derby and a must ride for MTB visitors looking for a challenging trail.
The Trouty stairs are a technical feature which is probably the easiest on the entire network to visit for spectators. Watch riders as they gap these or simply roll over the sharp edges to complete a descent of this black trail. Crowds will gather here on race day to see riders complete their run and cheer them as they come across the finish line at the trailhead.
The trails of the EWS Derby are open all the year and (with the exception of any new trails built) you can come down to enjoy them anytime. Although we don’t know exactly which trails will be in the 2023 race you can find the trails of the 2019 EWS Derby here: Trail forks EWS Shimano Derby
You can also visit some of our other posts on riding in Derby found here: https://rivercabinsderby.com/blog/blue-derby-trail-guide
Good luck to all competitors racing in 2023 and we can’t wait for the EWS to come back again!
Thanks to https://flowmountainbike.com/ for the awesome photos from the 2019 event. Follow them for all the action in the lead up to the 2023 event.