If you are looking for something to do this weekend, make sure you head to the Smithfield Mountain Bike Park for the UCI Masters Mountain Bike World Championships, taking place this weekend, May 17–18.
This marks the second and final year that Cairns plays host to the World Championships, offering a reunion of sorts for cross-country and downhill Masters who have competed on the world stage over the past three decades.
Among the riders generating buzz is David “Tinker” Juarez, a U.S. mountain biking icon and Olympian. Inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame in 2001, Tinker brings a storied career that spans from professional BMX in the ’70s and ’80s to a dominant run in cross-country mountain biking from 1986–2005.
It’s not just international names hitting the trails. Cairns’ own Lucas McDonald, who clinched the 2016 Australian Downhill National Championship in Bright, will compete on his home turf this weekend.
The event continues the region’s rich legacy of mountain biking, with Crankworx Cairns set to follow shortly after on May 21–25. You can win tickets to Crankworx through my competition but be quick as the comp closes on Sunday night.
These events allow athletes to reconnect while exploring the destination with friends and family. In 2024, 43.9% of attendees came from interstate and 28.6% from overseas, staying an average of 8.6 nights to enjoy our dual World Heritage-listed surroundings.
Check out the Schedule for UCI Masters
mtbmastersworldscairns.com.au/schedule
Check out the Schedule for Crankworx Cairns
crankworx.com/cairns
I’ll see you there!
