Visualise this; In the heart of winter, when the outside world is chilly and rain has saturated the trails, there exists a tropical oasis up north in Cairns.
Here, the thermometer reads a delightful 26 degrees, the sun reigns supreme, and the trails await, dry and ready for adventure. Picture yourself with a cold beer in hand, soaking up the warmth after a hard day’s riding.
Looking for an excuse to escape winter? Look no further than the iconic Reef to Reef stage race, now in its fifth year of glory. From July 25th to 28th, 2024, the lush hills of Cairns in Northern Queensland will play host to an unforgettable four-day racing spectacle. Clear your schedules and prepare for an experience like no other!
Updates for Reef to Reef 2024
Following the 2023 Reef to Reef some large news dropped. Ironman — the previous owner of the Reef to Reef, Port to Port and Cape to Cape, had sold the first two events to Event Management Solutions Australia.
The team at EMS, which organised the 2019 UCI World Championship and Enduro World Series events in Tasmania, are the experts when it comes to large-scale mountain bike events and delivering an event like no other.
With the Reef to Reef and Port to Port going seperate ways from their sister race, the Cape to Cape, the Triple-Crown trifecta series is no longer in an official sense.
According to Ian Harwood from EMS, this also means the races will no longer be qualifiers for the Cape Epic, at least for this year anyway, so riders looking to qualify will have to head abroad. Another great excuse for a holiday? We think so!
Harwood tells Flow the Reef to Reef for 2024 will feature a number changes, including a brand new eMTB category, a returning venue, new food and beverage options at the finish line, and a new Day 1 prologue/hot-seat racing format.
Fear not, the event will maintain the classic features of the Reef to Reef we know and love such as the flowing singletrack at Smithfield MTB park and the final stage finishing on the beach in Port Douglas. The full four day stage race can be completed either solo or in pairs, requiring pairs to remain within 2 minutes of each other through the entire race, a format which is becoming increasingly popular in stage racing.
The eMTB community have been asking and the team at EMS have been listening, which is why they are introducing an eMTB specific category for 2024. Racers will compete alongside the rest of the field and will likely lead out the race, but it certainly won’t be a cruise in the park even with a motor assisting on the climbs.
Their other acquisition, the Port to Port, based in Newcastle, NSW, has unfortunately suffered from a rough few years, with the pandemic and consecutive years of flooding forcing cancellation after cancellation. With this in mind, the team at EMS is planning a huge return for the event but needs a little extra time to get things together. Hence, it will not be running for 2024 but will return for 2025 — stay tuned folks!
Reef to Reef Prologue| Smithfield MTB Park | 6km, 150m vert
To kick things off for 2024, there will be a prologue-style race based in Smithfield MTB Park. The course will be short and punchy, 6km long with approximately 150m of climbing, and is largely based on the UCI Master World Championships course set to take place on the 19th of May 2024 — including the infamous Jacobs Ladder.
The race will be run in a hot-seat style format, with racers tackling the course in ascending order, with EMS seeding riders within their category based on past race results and order of expected pace. This format is most similar to what we typically see in DH racing or time trials, albeit with a few tweaks for the format, and will be sure to provide some exciting racing! Harwood says the prologue is set to run in the afternoon, giving riders the opportunity to travel up to Cairns in the morning to make the journey a little easier logistically.
Reef to Reef Stage One | Smithfield MTB Park | 30km, 700m vert
Day two of the 2024 edition of the Reef to Reef will see racers tackle the remainder of the Smithfield MTB Park, with 30kms of singletrack and around 700m of climbing.
Having hosted UCI World Cups, UCI World Champs, and the home to Crankworx Cairns, the pedigree of the terrain and trails at Smithfield Mountain Bike Park is undeniable. Racers can expect a healthy mix of tech and flow and will keep everyone on their toes. The dirt is primarily hard-pack with a sprinkling of rock, with locals suggesting the redder the dirt the slipperier it gets, especially after a touch of rain.
Reef to Reef Stage Two Atherton MTB Park | 60km, 1000m vert
A returning classic of the Reef to Reef, for 2024, the race will head back out to the Atherton MTB Park situated 1.5hrs southwest of Cairns, with over 55kms of primary hand-cut singletrack.
The stage is a big one, covering 60km and ~1000m of climbing, with a mixture of singletrack and fire roads zig-zagging in and out of the bike park.
The hills bordering the Silvia Valley rise approximately 300 meters, offering extended descents that traverse through three or four distinct topographic zones. We checked out Atherton MTB Park and caught up with the club President back in 2022, a worthy read if you’re chasing a sneak preview of what is to come.
Reef to Reef Stage Three, Triple-R | Mount Molloy to Port Douglas | 51km, 600m
The finale of the Reef to Reef is a true classic and a highlight for all racers. After an early start in Mount Molloy riders descend down to Four Mile Beach in Port Douglas via the infamous Bump Track where the party awaits. The day will consist of around 51kms of riding and despite starting up in the range and finishing on the beach, will still consist of around 600m of climbing.
The final day of the Reef to Reef also doubles as the Triple-R single-day race (formerly known as RRR, or Rural Rainforest Reef), which has become a staple event in Australia’s mountain bike calendar. 2024 marks the 32nd edition. Racers can choose from the classic 36km course or the longer 51km course, both of which include the Bump Track and spectacular beach finish in Port Douglas.
Reef to Reef Race Logistics & FAQ’s
Logistically, there is a bit to consider when tackling the Reef to Reef as the locations are a short drive apart.
The team at EMS recommend staying in Cairns for the first two days of racing, and relocating to Port Douglas for the remainder of the race. There are a huge range of accommodation options available from budget motels to fancy apartments, rest assured there will be something to suit any preference. Alternatively, camping or renting a motorhome has proven very popular in previous years, and there are plenty of caravan parks with a full suite of facilities in both locations.
While this is technically an XC marathon race, you can totally ride it on your trail bike or enduro bike — we’ve even seen one fellow ride it on rigid fat bike. Most however typically most people bring XC (100-120mm) hardtails or dual-suspension mountain bikes.
The race village will have all of the typical inclusions such as registration, information, first-aid, along with bike mechanics and some tasty food and beverage options to choose from.
There will be aid stations at around the halfway mark on each day, but we do not recommend relying on these. Each rider should carry around 2-3L of water in a hydration pack.
Things to do that don’t involve riding?
One of the best things about stage racing is that once the day’s racing is all said and done, there is still plenty of daylight left to explore the area, even if your legs have turned to jelly. Tropical Northern Queensland is packed full of things to see and do, whether it’s relaxing on the beach after a hard day’s riding or snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef; you’ll have zero issues filling in the downtime between races.
Acting as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns offers activities ranging from snorkelling and scuba diving tours to white water rafting and stand-up paddle boarding.
North Queensland might not be on everyone’s wine radar, but it’s a hidden gem among Australia’s many wine regions. Instead of the usual suspects on the wine rack, winemakers in this tropical paradise are turning to exotic fruits to craft their wines, ports, and liqueurs. Picture lush orchards brimming with mangoes, bananas, lychees, pineapples and passionfruit.
It’s a departure from traditional vineyards, yet rest assured, sipping these creations won’t feel like you’re diving into a fruit bowl.
Cairns also boasts a dynamic brewery scene that’s as diverse as it is exciting, with prime locations peppered throughout this tropical paradise. From waterfront spots to hidden gems nestled in laneways, you’ll be sure to find a spot for a cold drink following a hard days racing.
With the race wrapping up in tropical Port Douglas, you’ll be surrounded by a range of activities and some of the sleepiest beaches in the country. Take a refreshing dip in the crystal-clear waters of Mossman Gorge, surrounded by ancient rainforest, and embark on guided walks to learn about indigenous culture and history, or explore one of the world’s most incredible natural wonders with snorkelling or diving tours to the Great Barrier Reef, departing from Port Douglas.
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Entering the 2024 Reef to Reef
With the race just a few months away, the team at EMS are busy finalising all the details for what is set to be an epic fifth edition of the Reef to Reef. Event entries are open, so get planing your winter escape and head over to the Reef to Reef event website for event details and pricing.