Quad Crown Takes On the Sunshine Coast

Australia’s newest stage race, the Quad Crown, will run its second event of the series on the Sunshine Coast, QLD, over June 9 – 11 2023. While that’s the start of the icy months for many of us, Queensland always delivers the summer vibes at this time of year! 

With three stages over 3 days on brilliant single track, this is sure to be one of the most popular in the series. 

Who is Quad Crown for?

Like any good cross-country stage race, Quad Crown offers something for everyone. Elite riders will find a challenging weekend with punchy stages, while weekend warriors will test their endurance and enjoy exploring new trails with their mates. It’s the perfect opportunity for a riding holiday! 

All about the Sunshine Coast 

We road tripped around the riding destination of the Sunshine Coast a couple years back, and it’s the perfect place to hold a stage race with handful of trail networks all within close proximity. You can fly into Brisbane and drive 60 minutes north to the prelude stage, or fly straight into the Sunshine Coast airport. 

The coastal trail network of Sugar Bag is single-track heaven, while the Ewen Maddock Dam area provides a lush backdrop to some renowned man-made flow trails. Whether you come for the racing, the sunshine, the pizza – or a bit of everything, the Sunshine Coast always delivers. 

The Prelude – Sugar Bag Trail Complex

A 10km all-out sprint will be served up on the Friday evening of the event. As the name suggests, Sugar Bag is a delight to ride. This is one of the most popular trail networks in the state, and Hayden realised why on our most recent trip there.

“Nestled in the middle of suburbia, ‘Sugar Bag’ as the locals call it shows that it’s not about the size of the hill but more so what you can do with it… One benefit of the mere 40m elevation drop at this trail area is that it is very easy for riders with a lower level of fitness to complete multiple laps without needing to have legs like the Energizer Bunny.”

It may be a predominately flat course to open the event, but it will undoubtedly shake of the travel legs in time for Saturday’s big stage.

Stage 1 – Hidden Valley

The Hidden Valley stage at Nambour will utilise the brilliant trails of the Parklands. This will be a challenging stage both technically and physically, with nearly 1000m of climbing over 30km. These old school trails will reward those with cornering finesse, and those who can carry speed through the ups and downs. 

“Home of the Bushrangers MTB club, these trails are old school in feel and reward those with a high level of fitness and great cornering ability. You’re either going up or down when riding at Parklands and can expect to come across a variety of trails.”

But like any good stage race, there will be plenty of fire trail to give opportunities to refuel and overtake your mates. There’s also whispers that the Parklands will be the host venue for the 2032 Olympic Games mountain bike events, so racing here is an incredible opportunity! 

Stage 2 – Ewen Maddock Dam

The final stage of the Sunshine Coast Quad Crown round is all about work and reward. A huge climb awaits riders at the start, before spitting them out onto kilometres of flow trails. The stage will cover 40km with only 830m of climbing, so be prepared to put in the hard yards before tipping it through the corners to the finish. 

As we discovered from our recent trip, the Ewen Maddock Dam is a super approachable network which fits the non-discriminatory nature of the Quad Crown. “[It’s] fun for all ages. The combination of smooth, flowing trail and beautiful views of the dam will be sure to keep all the family members happy… Finish the day off with some fantastic wood fire pizza from That Pizza Guy and you have yourself a family weekend to remember.”

So pack your bags, book your flights, and start sharpening your single track skills! Quad Crown on the Sunshine Coast will be a weekend to remember, with fun and challenging stages and tan lines to match. 

Head to the Quad Crown website for more info and to secure your early bird pricing!