The Orca in Tathra has to be one of the best stops on the Quad Crown calendar — unreal trails, ocean views, and racing that keeps you honest from start to finish.
Prologue: Friday Afternoon
Things kicked off Friday with a 10km prologue on Eden’s flowing singletrack. Perfect weather, grippy trails, and good legs — I felt right at home. I managed to clock the fastest time of the day and grab the leader’s jersey straight away. My Ciovita Aeolis zipperless jersey definitely helped — super light, aero, and the kind of fit that makes you feel fast before you even clip in.
Stage 1: Saturday at Tathra
Saturday’s stage rolled out from the Tathra Pub, straight into a mix of climbs, rollers, and endless singletrack. I kept things sharp at the front, pushing the pace all day. In the final kilometres the fireworks started, with attacks flying left and right. I sprinted hard and crossed second in a four-rider battle — just enough to hang onto the leader’s jersey.
Stage 2: Sunday in Eden
Sunday brought nearly 40km of Eden’s MTB park — big climbs, epic descents, and plenty of chances to test the legs. I rode on the front to control the pace, hoping to grind down the competition. But with only a few k’s to go, Cam Ivory hit with a brutal attack. I chased but couldn’t quite close it down — he took the stage and the leader’s jersey, leaving me second overall for the weekend.
Kit That Carried Me
If there’s one thing I couldn’t stop appreciating all weekend, it was my Ciovita Apex Jacquard bibs. The comfort and compression kept me feeling strong, even when the racing got savage. Paired with the Aeolis jersey, I felt dialled in from prologue to final stage. Having kit that performs as hard as you do makes a massive difference — and for me, this setup was spot on.
Wrapping It Up
Second overall at The Orca is something I’m proud of, and it’s weekends like this that remind me why I love the sport — fast trails, tough racing, and the MTB community at its best. Huge thanks to the Quad Crown crew for another top-notch event, and to Ciovita for kit that goes the distance. On to the next one.
