Kona rider Cory Wallace has achieved yet another remarkable feat by clinching his sixth 24-hour Solo Mountain Bike World Championship title. The race took place on the trails of Mount Stromlo, in Canberra, the spiritual home of 24-hour Solo racing.
After a host nation pulled out from putting on the 2024 WEMBO event, Canberra local and WEMBO founder Russell Baker made the last-minute decision to host the race, even with the venue change the race attracted riders from New Zealand, USA, Canada and of course a healthy does of Australian locals. With five world titles already under his belt, Cory Wallace entered the race as a seasoned veteran. Cory lined up alongside friend and seven-time WEMBO winner Jason English and in-form Australians Jon Odams and Michael Sherwood, all vying for the prestigious title.
The course itself was as perfect as 24-hour courses get. A mellow climb with optional technical A-lines, some FSR roads for passing and a fun, yet not to challenging descent. Rain on Thursday had meant that whilst still dusty and loose, the majority of the tracks were not to slippery (with loose dusty dirt). A loss of grip could still cost you big time.
Over the years, Cory’s training and race preparation has taken him to the heights of the Himalayas and the depths of the Canadian backcountry, all of which contribute to his unrivaled ability to endure long hours in his 10 year old WTB Silverado saddle. For the race in Canberra, his strategy was straightforward: pace himself early on, maintain consistent laps, and rely on his wealth of experience to strategically outlast the competition. No stranger to the mental walls that come up in a race of this magnitude, where sleep deprivation and physical exhaustion can be as much of an adversary as the other riders, Cory’s calm, calculated approach has proven successful in previous championships, and this race would follow a similar pattern.
The early stages of the race are often deceptive; riders who push too hard can find themselves burning out as the hours stretch on. Cory, aware of this from years of experience, paced himself and kept an eye on the other riders, gauging who could be a threat. The Canberra course, with its 20-minute climb, required both skill and patience. Maintaining a strong but sustainable pace, he would come back from almost three minutes down at lap three to being taking the lead at lap six and never letting up for the remaining 34 laps.
The long, dark hours are when riders start to face the limits of their physical and mental endurance. Sleep deprivation, cold, and fatigue set in, and this is where Cory’s experience in endurance racing truly came into play. Having competed in countless 24-hour events over the years, Cory has learned how to handle these challenges. His ability to stay focused and keep his pace through the night gave him an edge over the competition.
By dawn, Wallace had already established a commanding lead. The final hours of the race were a testament to Cory’s determination and willpower. Even with his significant lead, he refused to let up, knowing that anything can happen in a 24-hour race.
When the 24-hour mark finally arrived, Cory crossed the finish line in first place a full lap up on second place, securing his sixth world title. His victory was not only a testament to his incredible endurance but also to his mental strength and strategic approach to racing. In true Cory Wallace fashion, he celebrated his victory with humility, crediting his support team for helping him through the gruelling event.
This win solidifies Cory’s place as one of the greatest endurance mountain bikers of all time. Six world titles in the 24-hour solo category is an extraordinary achievement, one that speaks volumes about his dedication to the sport.
“Yeah, it's pretty unreal. I have six under the belt now. I remember growing up watching Chris Eatough win six in a row, and it seems like just yesterday I won my first one over in Italy, they've just been piling up ever since”
In reflecting on his victory, Wallace mentioned that each race is different, and winning never comes easy. “It was an interesting race this year. You had Jason English here, a multi -time world champ. Then a couple of Australia's top marathon racers. It was just an interesting dynamic. I knew I had to keep an eye on the marathon guys and when they put in their attack early on, I counterattacked and got a gap and never looked back.”
When we asked him if he was keen to defend his title for a seventh time, Cory was quick to respond “Oh yeah, I'm super excited to come back and defend the title next year and go for number seven!”
