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Some History.   The first 24 hour mountain bike race in Australia was run by Canberra Off-Road Cyclists (CORC) and Dave White in 1999 at Deeks Forest, about 700 metres southeast of the Stromlo Forest Park Event Pavilion. Initially known as The Mont 24Hr, it remained at Deeks Forest, with some course changes which included venturing onto Mount Stromlo, until 2003 when Mount Stromlo was completely burned in the January 2003 Canberra Bushfires. CORC then shifted the race to Kowen Forrest, east of Canberra Airport. In 2006 the naming rights sponsor changed to Scott, and in 2007 the Scott 24Hr returned to Stromlo, to be staged from the newly constructed Stromlo Forest Park.

Over the years, the Scott 24 Hour has grown to a peak of 3,031 riders and now, with many other 24 hour races on the calendar, its sits comfortably at about 2,500 riders – the largest 24 hour race of its type in the world. Since 1999, this race has provided an opportunity for nearly 25,000 riders (OK – you asked for it: 24,582 riders) to enjoy 24 hour mountain bike racing in the national capital of Australia.

The Course.  For the WEMBO World Solo 24 Hour Championships at Mount Stromlo, CORC uses two laps, each about 12 Km long.   These laps are in an hourglass format, a red lap and a blue lap, to provide course variation and ease rider traffic density during the race.   For the WEMBO World Solo 24 Hour Championships, the solo riders will have exclusive use of Stromlo for the weekend because the team 24 hour will be held the weeked before (5/6 October). This provides the fairest possible conditions for the riders, and it means that team riders do not get in the way of solo riders.   The summit of Mount Stromlo is about 230 metres above the event village, and the total climbing per complete hourglass 2-laps is about 450 metres.   Don't let this fool you, as UK rider Andrew Howett said in 2010:

"Upon arrival at Mount Stromlo, overlooking Canberra, I was struck by how large the event village and pit area appeared to be, and how small the mountain itself looked. Over 30 minutes of climbing to the cross-over at the top revealed that this second impression was incorrect."

After a steady climb to the top of the mountain on the red lap, riders descend on the famous Skyline and Luge single tracks back to the event village with a smile after a 3 Km long descent, they then start the blue lap which goes around the northern ridge of Mount Stromlo.   There will be more information on the 2013 course, including a map and profile, in the Rider Info Pack section.   Remember, the official course is not published until 2 weeks before the race.