Matthias Schwarze

Riding Disciplines:

Endurance MTB and XC, Road for a laugh and training.

Weaponry of Choice:

Dirt: 26" Specialized S-Works Epic 2011 (twenty-six inches are big enough!!)

Specialized S-Works HT 2008 (aluminium of course so it won’t crack!)

Road: Specialized Tarmac Pro 2007 (to be upgraded shortly)

Commute: GT Zaskar LTD 1996 (the last real GT!)

Cycling Goals:

NOW: Wildside Tasmania 2012 and Cape Epic 2012 together with Carl "I get better the longer the stage race goes on" Maroney.

LATER: Attempt the BC bike race, the Red Centre Enduro, the Brazil Ride, …

One of my earliest memories is learning to ride a bike at the age of three. Since then there hasn't been a time when I didn't own at least one bike. In 1992 at the age of thirteen a mate let me have a go on his rigid UNIVEGA steel hard tail with 21-Speed Shimano DX group set which was leading edge MTB technology at the time. I became obsessed with XC racing shortly after. As a junior I competed in the German nationals for both XC and CX. I had a bit of a hiatus from racing during apprenticeship and uni years. However, I rediscovered my love for competitive cycling after moving to Mount Isa where one has the choice between punishing the liver or the lungs. I chose the lungs with the ultimate goal of finishing as many MTB endurance stage races as possible.

Noteworthy Results:

1^st overall, Paluma Push 2010

5^th overall, Masters 1 - Crocodile Trophy 2010

8^th overall, Paluma Push 2011 (cracked my S-works Epic frame)

Survivor, Crocodile Trophy 2011 (the hardest 10 days of my life)

3^rd Team, Crocodile Trophy 2011 (together with Ash and Sam – all credit to them!)