See this article and others in The World Stage 2022.
Words: Matthew Fairbrother || Photo: Sven Martin
Living in the land down under, seemingly secluded, you must put yourself out there to make it in mountain biking. You need to dedicate everything to the cause, take risks, and have a bucketload of hope and confidence. This is where my journey starts. I’m obsessed with the feeling of progression and being submerged in the process – totally tunnel-visioned. That’s what I strive for, and it fuels my fire.
I had one goal this year: to race all the European rounds of the Enduro World Series (EWS). My plan? Well, I needed a plan. This trip was my first time overseas as a 17-year-old who didn’t know anyone. While I didn’t own a car and only had a few thousand dollars to last five months of travelling and racing, I had zero worries. Inspired by all the stories of hardship other Kiwis had faced in the same pursuit, I was overflowing with confidence. They made it work, and so could I, too, right?
I stumbled across fellow Kiwi Wyn Masters a week before the Tweed Valley round in Scotland. Inevitably, he asked what my plans were for the season, and I replied that I had no plans and needed a way of getting to the second round in Austria and Slovenia – a whopping 1,500 kilometres away. Then, the suggestion to pedal there came up. In awe of his presence and with only a bit of hesitation, I said I’d do it.
As my first-time bike packing, I had zero training or preparation and no idea what I’d signed up to. A mere hour after finishing 11th in the men under 21 (U-21) category, I was on the move to catch the New Castle-Amsterdam ferry, where I’d face my first challenge after a sleepless night on the side of the road among the midges.
Ironically, I was allowed to fly across the world as a minor but not allowed to board a ferry. I had two options: forfeit my ticket or get my parents’ written permission and a copy of their passport. However, it was 02:30 in New Zealand, and I had no mobile data or wi-fi access. The staff didn’t offer further help, and other passengers were too busy, stressed about their travel or didn’t care. The panic quickly set in as I faced the reality of probably missing the boat. Stress levels were at an all-time high with the minutes I had left flying by. I found my saving grace in the large queue waiting to board. Someone shared a hotspot connection, and I could thankfully reach my parents. The mission was still on!
After averaging 250 kilometres daily on my high-pivot enduro bike, I finished tenth in U-21 at round two. Despite accomplishing the most complex challenge I’ve set my mind and body, I wanted more. I’ll never be satisfied and will challenge myself perpetually to fill this insatiable void inside of me. Then and there, I committed to bike-packing to all rounds. The mountain biking community made that a reality. Through their sheer kindness, I raised enough funds to make it to the North American rounds. For the remainder of the season, the support I received was heartwarming, with offers of beds, food and help from all around the world. Despite completing these efforts solo, it felt like I had a whole support crew behind me. The mountain biking community was indeed the highlight of my season.
Fast-forward to the end of the season. I’d saved the hardest commute for last: Crans-Montana, Switzerland, to Loudenvielle, France – a gruelling 1,000+ kilometres pedal within four days. One variable I hadn’t accounted for was autumnal alpine weather and a temperature drop of -2 C° that first night. With my gear suited for comfortable conditions, I knew I wouldn’t sleep. Any attempt to sleep would be wasted time. Knowing this would be my last night in the Alps, I boldly decided to cut arm and leg holes in my sleeping bag and wear it to make the already miserable night shift more bearable. I looked like the Michelin Man, but at least I was warm. For this leg of the journey, I ran a 20-hour ride time and eight-hour sleep ratio. From previous experience, I knew this would be the most efficient ratio for me. After three rides, with the most significant at 430 kilometres, I arrived in Loudenvielle at 19:00 on Thursday, right on the registration deadline.
Just like that, the 2022 season was wrapped up. After riding 3,448 kilometres between venues, I’d lie if I wasn’t stoked to finish 13th overall in U-21 as a first-year junior. So, what’s next? In 2023, I’ll be doing it all over again, trying to learn from my mistakes and building upon the base I’ve created this year to elevate things to the next level.
By Matthew Fairbrother, Enduro World Cup racer and epic ride enthusiast.
If you enjoy reading this, you should check out The World Stage. It’s got many features like it, plus round-by-round accounts of the UCI Enduro World Cup and pore over hundreds of the best images of the season in The World Stage Book 2023 yearbooks are available now.
