2019 Race Report

Race Route 2019

SDBC2019 was a year the race started in Birdsville with a prologue stage, had four different race leaders, and a single 100km stage. Riders faced tsunami’s of dunes, whilst support crews and their 4wds never had a dull moment as the race headed West. It was a year that only 30% of the riders completed the 499.6km route with majority of the riders succumbing on the afternoon stage of day3. Fatigue, extreme heat and alternative route challenged all the riders with only a few managing to keep ahead of Sweep.

Monday, 30th September 2019 It was a typical Australian Outback afternoon – big hot sun with gusty winds blowing across draught stricken desert. The SDBC 2019 was about to start with an individual 21km Time Trial around the outskirts of Birdsville. The fifteen riders, majority of them having never participated before, started at 1minute intervals – providing amble time to put in a strong individual effort. As the results rolled in, only 32 seconds separated the top 2 places with one lap to go. Could Stuart Derham close the gap to Graham Hancox (known as Legs Eleven)? Rolling across the finish line, the gap had closed to 20 seconds with Graham Hancox taking the inaugural Unicorn Cup.

Prologue Stage Results

Tuesday, 1st October 2019: Stages 1 & 2 Within a few minutes of starting Stage 1, the riders had summited Big Red and where officially on the QAA Line heading West.  Shadows were briefly chased before the sun climbed into a cloudless sky.

The QAA line is well known for its big dunes, long swales and corrugated ruts. Eyre Creek diversion was in place which required the riders to follow the southern detour around the flooded creek. Majority of crews and riders commented that it was amazing to see the desert so green with many birds, including pelicans and flocks of budgies, in the area.  The morning stage victory went to the experienced desert racer, Jason Morrison, who covered the 75.8km at an average speed of 21.7km/h finishing the stage as race leader with 5 minutes lead on the 2^nd place finisher, Rasmus Altenkamp.

The average speed of the stage winner was considerably faster than the front support crew convoy could travel!

Stage 1 Results

After a long Stage 1, all that remained of the QAA line was 44km – that’s all the riders needed to do to complete stage 2.

Stage 2 instantly had the dunes causing havoc for some riders with the long swales offering riders time to recover between the gruelling sand dune riding.  In addition to the big dunes, the temperature soared with the majority of bike computers recording temperatures above 40 Deg C.

The fast average speed dropped to 16km/h with a new race leader. Michael Liebert won the stage opening 11minutes on the 2nd place stage finisher, Rasmus Altenkamp, and taking the overall leaders title.

Stage 2 Results

Wednesday, 2nd October 2019: Stages 3 & 4

Day 2 Stage 3 started with a few remaining QAA dunes before turning South to Poeppel corner and finally West onto the French Line. 

The initial dunes on the French Line continued to be interspersed with salt pans which made for easier riding however the salt pans soon wore thin as they jarred the riders with rock hard mud ruts. The stage had joint winners as Michael Liebert and Rasmus Altenkamp crossed the line together having ridden the stage at an average of 16.9km/h.

Stage 4 introduced the big French Line dunes. Monster tidal wave dunes lurked over the riders as the day heated to 38deg C. The stage was ‘only’ 35km but it offered a time bonus at Water Stop 1 for the first three riders.

Grant & Pam Palmer, in their 7th year as the water stop 1 crew, had the cameras ready for expected sprint across the time bonus line. With 1km to go, three riders were grouped together – Michael Liebert, Rasmus Altenkamp and Jason Morrison. With 500m left to sprint, Michael and Jason upped the pace and opened a gap on Rasmus. The sprint to the water stop turned out to be a photo finish with Michael and Jason sharing the bonus time and Rasmus taking 3rd spot. 

Stage 3 Results

The Simpson Desert always has surprises and this year, it turned out to be the last three dunes before the finish of Stage 4.  The dunes had all riders pushing their weary bodies to the limits as they crested the final dune into the overnight camp.  Michael Liebert worked hard and took the stage win opening an additional 3min on the overall leaderboard.  The average pace was 16.3km/h. The stage might have ended for the riders but the rear convoy was yet to crest that last dune. The big dune, rutted with large holes, challenged the drivers and their heavy vehicles. Grant Hawksworth, in his role of Sweep and rear convoy leader, performed many snatch recoveries on that last dune. This dune was just a preamble for the following day…

Stage 4 Results

Day 3 – Thursday, 3rd October 2019: Stages 5 & 6 The desert has a way of reminding us that we should never get complacent.

Stage 5 (53km) started like any other stage with riders departing at 6am. Immediately the dunes, although firm from the cool evening, rose to challenge them. This was the heart of the French Line – steep dunes with short swales.

The first four riders made it across the stage finish ahead of sweep time.   The allocated time was reached yet no Sweep was insight or even within UHF radio comms. Ten riders eventually finished the stage ahead of Sweep and the rear convoy. It was a mammoth stage with Rasmus Altenkamp taking the stage win with an average speed of 14.4km/h and Jason Morrison taking 2nd place 16minutes behind Rasmus. Michael Liebert, as race leader, found the conditions tough taking 3rd place and 17min behind stage winner. After a tough morning, Michael Liebert was still the race leader but Rasmus Altenkamp had closed the gap to 3minutes.  As sweep and the rear convoy rolled into the lunch stop, the stories started – 12 vehicle recoveries with many requiring 2 vehicles to jointly snatch them over a few dunes.  It was a tough morning stage for the riders and equally for the support crews.

Stage 5 Results

Stage 6 turned out to be the stage that split the field – those that beat Sweep and those that got caught. Stage 6 was greeted with trepidation as riders knew what waited for them – it had been a tough morning and more dunes lay in wait with little respite from the hot sun.

In preparation, the rear convoy was split into two sections so that sweep could be on hand to assist any riders that needed assistance. Only 5 riders managed to complete the 38km stage finish ahead of sweep time. The rutted dunes and the extreme heat (bike computers peaked at 46Deg C) sapped the riders energy yet the determination to continue riding until the Sweep vehicle caught them was impressive.

Rasmus Altenkamp took the stage win and overall race lead having averaged 12.9km/h for the stage. 

Stage 6 Results

Day 4 – Friday, 4th October 2019: Stage 7 Day 4 and the first 100km single stage in the history of the event.

Departing Wonga Junction, the riders only had 30km of the French Line dunes remaining.  The stage finish was Dalhousie Springs.  The track was corrugated with many fesh-fesh sections. Fesh-Fesh is fine dust that looks like solid sand until the bike enters it and the sand starts to behave like mud slurping riders of energy.  Dalhousie Springs was a welcome sight as ten riders finished the stage ahead of Sweep.

Rasmus Altenkamp and Michael Liebert jointly took the stage win averaging 17.6km/h.

Julie Shaw, the only individual female entry, tenuously kept ahead of sweep ensuring that she completed the mammoth 100km stage. The inaugural Dalhousie Springs Dash took place late afternoon. The dash was 2x 2.5km running race around the hot springs. The army team, led by their Captain, pushed the pace covering the first km in 4:06 and the 2nd KM in 4min. The 38Deg C weather soon had the runners gasping for air as the gaps between the runners opened.

Lachlan Derham, support crew for Stuart Derham (Rider13), took the win in 20min 40sec. An impressive race time in the heat and dust of Dalhousie Springs. Nicky McDonald was the first female across the line and a notable mention to Army rider Deniz Altintas for being the only rider to complete the run. Race briefing that evening included a talk by Course Marker Alan Hancox. Alan shared about his time volunteering at Dalhousie Springs including the time a snake slithered over his hand as he scrubbed the wooden steps into the hot springs.

Stage 7 Results

Day 5 – Saturday, 5th October 2019: Stage 8 Day 5 and the final stage to Mt Dare. In true SDBC fashion, the wind changed direction as the riders pivoted and turned North for the final 68km to the finish line. The Northerly wind was relentless and battered the riders as they rode together as a team to cross the finish line and bring the 2019 event to a close.

Enjoy the following poem that Race Director Martin read out at the event briefing:

A WANDERER

For a while, I ride my life.
I reflect on my thoughts.
I wander into a different world.
I chase stars.

For a while, I own the dream.
I feel the warmth of the Sun.
I meander on the roads.
I feel the spell.

For a while, I chart my destiny.
I engineer my journey.
I flounder with joy.
I race the winds.

For a while, I live.
On my wheels.

Hashim ZK (Secunderabad, India)