Taking the place of The Redback, the Shimano Gravel Muster is a brand new stage race that sent riders into the outback for four stages of exploring the Red Centre.
Set against the East Macdonnell Ranges near Alice Springs, Gravel Muster is a little different from your standard gravel race or stage race, for that matter, with a number of timed segments for each stage. A bit like Grinduro — or an actual enduro — you can smash out your race run and regroup and enjoy yourself when the clock isn’t running.
“This is a race, not a Gran Fondo; and whilst there are a lot of people who love to pin a number on to race and challenge themselves in that way – the majority here were looking for that experience to push themselves in a new direction and that’s something we’ll continue to support in years to come,” says Toby Shingleton from Shimano AU, who was on the ground for the event.
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Part of the allure of Gravel Muster is a big adventure in the Northern Territory through terrain where not many folks — outside the locals — will have ridden their bikes. Rapid Ascent has organised this big adventure, so there are no big transfers or tricky logistical problems to solve because you stay at the remote cattle stations you’re riding to.
“This event may well have broken a number of riders down, to only rebuild them stronger and wilder,” said Event Director Sam Maffett. “We are completely blown away to see each and every one of our participants finish with a sparkle in their eye and the knowledge that they’ve just experienced something truly magical!”
“Our final day in particular felt more like we were a band of life-long friends – hardened by the desert and bonded by memories that are impossible to describe in words,” he continued.
Stage 1 | Simpsons Gap loop
Kicking off from the Alice Springs BMX track, the first stage saw 78 riders set out on a 47km loop, following popular gravel tracks outside of town to the top of Flagon Hill.
The racing for today features one timed 17km segment, and the folks from Rapid Ascent had a social pop-up bar waiting for everyone with cold brewskis and other beverages at the finish.
Michelin-Beard and Shauna Frey posted the fastest times in their respective fields, but today was just a taster of what the long weekend had in store.
Stage 2 | The Garden Road
Day two of racing was a big’un with 153km and two racing segments on the agenda, with a total of 94km against the clock.
Leaving Alice Springs, the group set a course for its first evening in the outback at the Hale River Cattle Station. Arrow-straight country roads made for fast, furious riding over the long timed sections, though it no doubt would have been difficult to focus while marvelling at the quintessential outback landscape.
Former World Tour Pro Richie Porte and Ella Bloor would be the fastest on the day.
“For me at the moment, it’s been hard to get a little bit of my fitness back; so to come up to the NT and have a good crack on each stage, I really enjoyed it,” said Porte. “We had a really good crew who pushed pretty hard… and that’s what it’s all about at the Gravel Muster — pushing hard when it’s timed and chilling out in the other segments!” said Porte.
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Stage 3 | Arltunga
With riders waking up at Hale River, today’s stage headed for Ross River Station, where they would again spend a night under the stars in the outback.
Taking in the Arltunga Plateau and Trephina Gorge in the heart of the East MacDonnell Ranges, the course was a bit shorter at 90km, with 47km of racing across a pair of segments.
“The event format is not something I’ve done before, so I’ve had to learn pretty quick how to switch on and off out of race mode, and it was quite tactical at times, too,” said Imogen Smith, who rode into second through the timed stages today.
“But honestly, this whole experience is like going to another planet! It’s not something you’ll get anywhere else in the World — and this race really does take you places you would never, ever go otherwise!” continued Smith.
In the end, Bloor and Michelin-Beard would both add a second-stage win to their Muster trophy cabinet coming into Hale River.
Stage 4 | The Numery
The crescendo of the 2024 Shimano Gravel Muster saw riders jump on the infamous Numery Road en route back to Alice Springs from the Station. The final stage was 95km in total, with 55km of that with the throttle wide open, dubbed as a “Roubaix-esque rattler.”
Bloor would make a hat trick, taking out her third stage of the event. Since retiring from the World Tour, Porte has been tip-toeing into the dirt and taking out a second state win; it’s clear there’s still some fire in those legs.
With that trio of stage wins, Bloor also won the general classification, which was all the more impressive given the week before she finished a ride from Perth to Sydney in 15 days. Frey and Smith would round out the top three.
Michelin-Beard would hang on to take the overall win ahead of Porte and Mitch Lorkin, even with the misfortune of breaking his handlebars mid-way through the Muster.
“It’s been a very fun four days on some very unique terrain up here, especially with the long flat gravel roads, which are a rare find back home,” said Michelin-Beard.
Photos: Forktail/ Rapid Ascent