‘Marathon racing is an ongoing battle in your own head’: Emma Viotto 

Marathon mountain bike racing is as much a mental challenge as it is a test of a rider’s physical strength and endurance.

Just ask last year’s Mountain Bike Marathon National champion Emma Viotto who went on a solo breakaway just 15km into the 75km race.

She spent roughly 3 hours of the 3hr 41-minute race, off the front by herself.

“The thing with marathon racing is it’s an ongoing battle in your own head. When you have a down moment you just have to work through it,” Viotto said.

Going on a break so early in the race wasn’t the plan, but Viotto saw the opportunity and went for the gutsy move 60km from the finish line, with that green and gold jersey she was aiming for firmly in her sights.

“Holly Harris made an attack on the first hill, and I was the only one who could stick with her. Then I broke away after 15km. I actually felt pretty good. I didn’t think the race would break up that early. That’s just how it played out,” she said.

With about 5kms to go, and still with a handy lead over the rest of the bunch, the reality of what she had just achieved started to sink in. She won the national title finishing 2.11 minutes ahead of Karen Hill in second.

“I was pretty emotional on the bike before I’d even cross the finish line. I was pretty happy and stoked. It was a goal of mine to win.”

The Canberran will be at the start line in Wagga on May 28, to defend her title, but she expects racing to be fierce this time over the 112km course.

“I think a lot of girls are aiming for this race this year so I it will be exciting racing. I expect it will be a lot tighter than last year,” she said.

“My prep has been pretty good. I’ve just been doing a lot of base at the moment.

"We will see how the race goes.”

The 75km course at Wagga last year was one Viotto says she enjoyed.

“I really loved the course last year. It was really well balanced. There was a fair bit of single track rather than fire road, it was a real mountain bike course.”

Beyond national champs, Viotto is looking ahead toward the World Championships and hoping to gain selection.

“It was a goal last year, and I was a bit disappointed I wasn’t selected last year with the results I had. But with the selection criteria edited hopefully I can gain selection this year,” she said.

“The thing with mountain bike races is you can be in the form of your life, but you can get one mechanical or a flat and your race is over, and you don’t get the chance to show your form.”

She is also looking to dip her toe in to gravel racing and plans to compete at the AusCycling Gravel National Championships in Tasmania in June.

“I only got a gravel bike a month ago, I’m a mountain biker at heart, and I’m loving it.”

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AusCycling Mountain Bike Marathon National Championship 2023
• Location: Wagga, NSW
• Dates: Saturday, May 27 – Sunday, May 28, 2023

More information about the  2023 AusCycling Mountain Bike Marathon National Championships.

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