The 2023 UCI Mountain Bike Marathon Masters World Championships will be coming to Western Australia next year as part of the popular Dwellingup 100 event.
This will be the first time the world championship event has been held outside Italy.
Thousands of visitors generating millions of dollars in visitor spend will descend on the South-West for what will now be a four-day festival of mountain biking.
The Dwellingup 100 is already the State's largest one-day mountain bike race.
With the addition of the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon Masters World Championships to the schedule, the Dwellingup 100 series will be extended to four days in 2023.
The mass participation event will start on 14 September 2023.
The UCI Mountain Bike Marathon Masters World Championships caters to mountain bike enthusiasts of all abilities from around the world, from novices to elite riders.
Cyclists who meet the minimum age criteria of 30 years will be eligible to race in the 100km and 60km distance events.
Each course has been curated by a team of mountain biking experts and designed to highlight the region's natural attractions, including parts of the Marrinup State Forest, Nanga Forest and Lane Poole Reserve, as well as sections of the iconic Munda Biddi Trail and Bibbulmun Track.
In the lead-up to the Championship race, contestants will have the opportunity to test out the local terrain and ride sections of the course via a series of planned familiarisation days.
Dwellingup 100 will also host a range of activities outside of the competition, including a Welcome Ceremony which will involve a Parade of Nations through the main street of Dwellingup.
Both the Dwellingup 100 and 2023 UCI Mountain Bike Marathon Masters World Championships are supported by the McGowan Government, through Tourism WA's Regional Events Program.
As stated by Tourism Minister Roger Cook:
"This mass participation event will bring thousands of visitors to Dwellingup and will inject millions into the local economy, while further promoting the mountain bike trails of the Peel region.
"Securing this event is great news for Dwellingup and the wider region, and will build on the exciting sporting events calendar we have planned to help support our regional tourism and hospitality businesses.
"Mountain biking is getting bigger and better in WA every year so the McGowan Government is delighted to support the 2023 UCI Mountain Bike Marathon Masters World Championships and to see the Dwellingup 100 series of mountain biking events continue to grow."
As stated by Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
"Hosting events like the 2023 UCI Mountain Bike Marathon Masters World Championships and Dwellingup 100 helps to build strong and resilient regional communities, diversify our economy and create local jobs.
"With funding from the Regional Events Program, events like the 2023 UCI Mountain Bike Marathon Masters World Championships can be promoted further, encouraging more people to visit the region and experience its incredible mountain biking trails and natural attractions."
As stated by Murray-Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke:
"Since its inception, the Dwellingup 100 has delivered significant returns for the town of Dwellingup and the region, through tourism exposure, as well as economic and social benefits."
