Local hero Brendan Johnston and perennial contender Holly Harris have claimed elite victories at the 2026 AusCycling Mountain Bike Marathon National Championships, hosted by Rocky Trail Entertainment's 17th Shimano 100 Marathon.
The two both led high-caliber fields from the front around Stromlo Forest Park in Canberra to secure coveted green and gold jerseys.
A total of 320 athletes took to the start line under crisp, overcast Canberra skies before turning into ideal, cool conditions once racing was underway.
While 94 competitors tackled the one-lap (30km) and two-lap (60km) Shimano 100 classifications, 226 endurance racers launched into the national title races across a demanding 90km, three-lap course.
Elite men: Johnston rules the Capital
Canberra’s own Brendan Johnston wasted no time making his intentions clear, laying down a furious pace from the start whistle.
Returning from his Life Time Grand Prix campaign in the United States, Johnston’s sharp form and extensive knowledge of Stromlo paid dividends.
By the end of the first lap, Johnston had built a commanding cushion of nearly two minutes over the chasing pair of Brent Rees and defending champion James Kelly.
Johnston maintained his chokehold on the lead over the remaining two laps to cross the line in 3:32:18, securing valuable UCI points alongside his seventh elite XCM national title.
Rees took the silver medal (+4:02), edging out Kelly who completed the national podium in third (+4:12).
Elite men’s podium:
- Brendan Johnston (Canberra Cycling Club) — 3:32:18 (L1: 1:07:21 | L2: 1:12:23 | L3: 1:12:34)
- Brent Rees (Toowoomba MTB Club) — 3:36:20 (L1: 1:09:14 | L2: 1:12:37 | L3: 1:14:29)
- James Kelly (Surf Coast MTB Club) — 3:36:30 (L1: 1:09:15 | L2: 1:12:37 | L3: 1:14:38)
Elite women: Harris controls heavyweight clash
The elite women’s race developed into a thrilling, tactical battle on Stromlo’s technical singletrack.
Armidale's Holly Harris stamped her authority on the race early, setting a blistering opening lap of 1:22:46.
Despite intense pressure from Ella Bloor and Katriina Dower, Harris held her nerve across all three laps to seal the national championship in 4:21:42.
Bloor crossed for silver, just 1:24 behind Harris, while Dower rounded out the podium a further 38 seconds adrift in third.
Elite women’s podium:
- Holly Harris (Manning Great Lakes Tip Riders) — 4:21:42 (L1: 1:22:46 | L2: 1:28:30 | L3: 1:30:26)
- Ella Bloor (Alpine Cycling Club) — 4:23:06 (L1: 1:23:05 | L2: 1:29:07 | L3: 1:30:54)
- Katriina Dower (Geelong MTB Club) — 4:23:44 (L1: 1:23:43 | L2: 1:28:57 | L3: 1:31:04)
Rising stars dominate Under-23 and Junior titles
The next generation of Australian mountain biking put on an incredible display, showing serious depth across the junior categories.
Anthony Graham (Toowoomba MTB Club) took out the U23 men’s national title in 3:54:40, while Elle de Nooyer (Toowoomba MTB Club) commanded the U23 women’s battle with a stellar victory in 4:31:23.
In the U19 categories, Oscar Menzies (Coot-tha MTB Inc) laid down a blazing 3:55:02 performance to claim the men's crown, while Alana Fletcher (Bendigo MTB Club) powered through two laps to secure the women's title in 3:01:24.
The U17 categories delivered massive local highlights and standout lap times.
Canberra’s own Michael Straffon (Canberra Off-Road Cyclists) used his home trail knowledge to secure the U17 men’s title in 2:32:38 across two laps.
In the U17 women’s race, rising star Sylvia Dagg (Northern Sydney Cycling Club) took the national jersey in 2:55:59.
2026 AusCycling MTB Marathon National Champions
- Elite men: Brendan Johnston (Canberra CC)
- Elite women: Holly Harris (Manning Great Lakes Tip Riders)
- U23 men: Anthony Graham (Toowoomba MTB Club)
- U23 women: Elle de Nooyer (Toowoomba MTB Club)
- U19 men: Oscar Menzies (Coot-tha MTB Inc)
- U19 women: Alana Fletcher (Bendigo MTB Club)
- U17 men: Michael Straffon (CORC)
- U17 women: Sylvia Dagg (Northern Sydney CC)
- U15 men: Hugo Wawrzonek (Hunter MTB)
- U15 women: Ruby Mansbridge (Bendigo MTB Club)
- Masters 1 men: Jacob van Egmond (Peloton Sports)
- Masters 1 women: Ashlee Innes (Batemans Bay MTB Club)
- Masters 2 men: Robert Wood (Geelong MTB Club)
- Masters 3 men: Jon Odams (Sutherland Shire CC)
- Masters 3 women: Joanna Lebbink (Warrandyte MTB Club)
- Masters 4 men: Jason English (Hunter MTB)
- Masters 4 women: Kate Kellett (Geelong MTB Club)
- Masters 5 men: Michael Cameron (Hunter MTB)
- Masters 5 women: Cristy Henderson (CORC)
- Masters 6 men: Paul Rowney (Eastern Suburbs CC)
- Masters 6 women: Lynne Vaughan (South Coast United Mountain Bikers)
- Masters 7 men: Russell Eggins (Sunshine Coast CC)
- Masters 7 women: Tanya Clark (Hunter MTB)
- Masters 8 men: Craig Peacock (Warrandyte MTB Club)
- Masters 8 women: Sharon Heap (Gold Coast MTB Club)
- Masters 9 men: Kevin Nichols (St George CC)
- Masters 10 men: Ian de Kam (Castlemaine Rocky Riders MTB Club)
- Expert men: Ching Wo Leung (Pastries CC)
Feature picture: Cameron Rogers/Rocky Trail