MTB News & Racing Round-up, Thursday, March 17, 2011

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Date published:

March 17, 2011, 11:00

Edited by Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor

Welcome to our regular roundup of what's happening in mountain biking. Feel free to send feedback, news, & releases to mtb@cyclingnews.com and results, reports & photos to cyclingnews@cyclingnews.com.

• Greater Shepparton hosting Oceania Mountain Bike Championships

  

  Article published:

  March 15, 2011, 23:22

  By:

  Cycling News

  Oceanias doubling as final round of Australian national series this weekend

  The fourth and final round of the 2010-2011 Australian Mountain Bike Series is set to make for an enthralling showdown as the nation's top elite mountain bike riders converge on Greater Shepparton this weekend to contest the national series title. The series finale will take place in conjunction with the 2011 UCI Oceania Mountain Bike Championships from Thursday, March 18 to Sunday, March 20.

  Featuring four formats - cross country, four cross and the downhill, riders will take to the challenging terrain at Mount Major while the short track will be held in Shepparton.

  Competition will be fierce as Australia's best take on a contingent of international visitors from the Oceania region including a strong New Zealand presence.

  One of the nation's best prospects for London 2012, five-time Australian national champion and current national series leader Chris Jongewaard will be looking to achieve a dual 2011 national series and Oceania championships title to cap off a successful return to mountain biking.

  Throughout the series, the South Australian celebrated wins in rounds two and three of the national series as well as the Otway Odyssey Mountain Bike Marathon before taking out his fifth title at the 2011 Australian Mountain Bike Championships in Adelaide last month.

  Having set the benchmark, Jongewaard, 32, will need to stand strong in the elite men's cross country taking place on Friday, March 18. Queenslander Aiden Lefmann, who is trailing by just 22 points in the current national series standings, will prove Jongewaard's biggest threat and the pair are expected to put on a great contest. He'll also battle New Zealand's Dirk Peters and Carl Jones.

  Tasmania's reigning national series champion Rowena Fry has a point to prove as she lines up for the elite women's cross country event. After dominating the national series with wins in rounds two and three, things didn't go quite according to plan for the 27-year-old at the National Championships in Adelaide last month, after she fell off the pace in the first lap and finished a disappointing ninth position.

  Fry is currently placed second in the overall series rankings, just two points behind series leader, Jenni King. In what will be a tightly fought contest between the two, the national series title will come down to who posts the best performance on the day. Expect New Zealand's Rosara Joseph to give both a run for the victory.

  Fellow Victorian Katherine O'Shea took a huge step up last month when she claimed her first national title. Currently ranked in third position, O'Shea will put the pressure on and be looking to take advantage of any mishaps throughout the race.

  In the Under 23 category, Canberra rider Rebecca Henderson remains unbeaten and Victorian Paul Van Der Ploeg is expected to start strong as the current national series leaders.

  The crowd will be treated to a fine display of contest in the men's four cross event on Friday as the top three series leaders, Blake Nielsen, Richard Levinson and Ryan Hunt battle it out for the title.

  The third of the feature events, the downhill will be staged on Sunday, March 20.

  In the men's elite race, New Zealand's best riders, including Cameron Cole, will be competing for the Oceania title along with a strong Australian presence led by current national series leader Rick Boyer who is followed closely by Rhys Atkinson in the current series rankings. Timothy Eaton remains in third ranking.

  Boyer's credentials throughout the series consist of wins in Glenorchy and Mt Baw Baw while claiming fourth position at Buller. A win for Boyer would allow him to claim both the national series and Oceania Championships title.

  In the women's downhill, Maffra rider Leonie Picton, who remains undefeated in the national series, hopes to continue her winning streak with her first national series title.

  Picton is expected to put up a tough contest in pursuit of the national crown but is up against tough rivalry from fellow Australian Julia Boer, who is ranked second in the national series standings.

  The best of the Australian squad in the under 19 category is young gun Troy Brosnan who has shown promising form throughout the Australian domestic competition.

  Ranked number one in the overall national series standings, Brosnan will have to fend off fellow rivals currently occupying second and third position in the rankings, Brandon Yrttiaho and Connor Fearon to claim the national series crown.

  The ongoing battle between the Brosnan and Fearon parties has been enticing throughout the series. Brosnan snatched the men's under 19 win away from Fearon by less than a second at the Mt Buller meet last month while Fearon fought back posting a surprise victory over the junior world champion at the 2011 Australian Mountain Bike Championships in Adelaide.

• New Zealand sends 32 mountain bikers to Oceania Championships

  

  Article published:

  March 16, 2011, 02:42

  By:

  Cycling News

  Cross country and gravity titles up for grabs

  New Zealand is sending a 32-strong contingent of mountain bikers to the 2011 Oceania Continental Mountain Bike Championships in Shepparton, Australia, on March 18-20.
  
  The cross country athletes have a lot at stake, with 2010 London Olympic qualification spots up for grabs in the elite men's and women's races. Rosara Joseph (RaboBank-Giant) leads the New Zealand women's charge, with a win in this event the only result that will confirm a spot for New Zealand at this stage of the Olympic ranking process. Joseph will not only be racing a strong Australian contingent, but an equally determined group of her compatriots who are targeting the same result.
  
  Dirk Peters (Santa Cruz) and Carl Jones (Waiariki) are New Zealand's in-form elite male cross country racers, who are targeting a placing of 1 or 2 from this event. Like the women, Peters and Jones are racing in Shepparton with the sole purpose of qualifying this 2012 London Olympic spot, and have timed their preparation to perfection in their build-ups. Both have fantastic support from several other New Zealand athletes, and their Friday race will be a highlight of the Oceania programme.
  
  Anton Cooper will get his first opportunity to race an international level event in the Under 19 category - and the Christchurch flier is quietly confident of dominating any competition the Oceania event stacks up against him. He is fresh off elite wins at Motatapu this weekend and Karapoti the previous weekend.
  
  Defending Oceania elite men's downhill champion Cam Cole (Lapierre International) leads a development-focused downhill team at Shepparton. Many of the downhill athletes making this trip across the Tasman have had strong domestic season results and are using this as an opportunity to measure themselves against an always strong Australian gravity team, while also targeting ranking points before the UCI World Cup season starts at the end of April.
  
  Switching back to downhill from BMX, Dan Franks is travelling to Shepparton with the goal of adding the the downhill junior men's Oceania title to the BMX junior men's Oceania title he won last weekend at Pukekohe.
  
  New Zealand Mountain Bike Team for the Oceania Championships

  Cross Country

  Under 17 men
  Craig Oliver (Christchurch)

  Under 19 men
  Anton Cooper (Christchurch)
  Nigel McDowell (Rotorua)
  Tom Bradshaw (Wellington)
  Mathew Waghorn (Palmerston North)

  Elite and Under 23 men
  Dirk Peters (Rotorua)
  Carl Jones (Whakatane)
  Mike Northcott (Tokoroa)
  Brad Hudson (Christchurch)
  Sam Shaw (Rotorua)
  Gavin McCarthy (Wellington)
  Dominic Furket (Palmerston North)

  Elite and Under 23 women
  Rosara Joseph (Christchurch)
  Karen Hanlen (Whakatane)
  Fiona MacDermid (Palmerston North)
  Samara Sheppard (Rotorua)
  Katie O'Neill (Rotorua)
  Eloise Fry (Nelson)
  Melissa Newell (Christchurch)

  Downhill

  Under 17 men
  Josh McCombie (Dunedin)

  Under 19 men
  Daniel Franks (Christchurch)
  Loius Hamilton (Rotorua)
  Dan McCombie (Dunedin)
  Mat Prior (Auckland)

  Elite men
  Cam Cole (Christchurch)
  Bryn Dickerson (Porirua)
  Nick McConachie (Christchurch)
  James McConachie (Christchurch)
  Tom Mathews (Christchurch)

  Under 19 women
  Sarah Atkin (Wellington)
  Sophie Tyas (Auckland)

  Elite women
  Amy Laird (Christchurch)

• Phil Liggett saddles up for South African race

  

  Article published:

  March 16, 2011, 15:20

  By:

  Cycling News

  Veteran commentator to participate in mountain bike stage race

  Tour de France commentator Phil Liggett will indulge his twin passions of cycling and South Africa when he sets off on the nine-day Fairbairn Capital/Old Mutual joBerg2c off-road race starting on April 29.

  "With it's terrific countryside, South Africa was made for cycling, especially mountain biking," said Liggett, who divides what little leisure time he has between his holiday home in Gordon's Bay and game farm near Phalaborwa.

  Known worldwide as the "voice of cycling", he flies almost 200,000 kilometres a year, doing broadcast work for various channels including ITV in Britain, Versus in America, SBS in Australia and, in South Africa, M-Net.

  He has covered 38 Tours de France, 13 Olympic Games and seven Commonwealth Games. Aside from cycling, he also commentates on triathlons and ski-jumping.

  Liggett is currently in South Africa after doing commentary work on the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour - the race that first brought him to these shores in the early 90s. He will jet in again in time for the pre-race registration at Melrose Arch in Sandton on April 28.

  "I think the joBerg2c is taking mountain biking back to grass roots," he said. "It's a great opportunity to ride in safe conditions over a spectacular route."

  Fairbairn Capital general manager Stuart Loxton said apart from being a cycling legend, Liggett shared a love for the country, its people and particularly its wildlife.

  "It's our pleasure and honour to be able to facilitate his presence," said Loxton on behalf of the second-year event.

  With Liggett swapping his microphone for a mountain bike, 600 fellow participants will get the rare opportunity to sweat it out alongside him as they cross the picturesque agricultural heartland of the country.

  The 900-kilometre tour starts in Heidelberg just south of Johannesburg and finishes on the beach at Scottburgh in KwaZulu-Natal on May 7.

  Liggett's gruelling globe-trotting schedule prevents him from completing the full race, and he will be heading home to London after day five.

  He'll wrap up his tour with a live broadcast from the event. "I'm just a bit worried that I won't make it in time for the start of the show!" said Liggett.

  An active road cyclist, he said he was looking forward to the event, but admitted he had never ridden 100 kilometres on a mountain bike "in my life".

  The race is known for its generous elimination times (riders have to be in by dark), giving the average rider a chance to take part in a long-distance race.

  "There's no pressure. By the end of the nine days, you get the feeling that you've achieved something really special."

  As an avid birdwatcher and patron of BirdLife SA, Liggett is also looking forward to some exciting sightings. "Last year, I saw the Cape parrot, wattled crane and crowned crane - three of the rarest birds. I only saw them because I was on a bicycle deep in the countryside."

  According to a member of the organising trio, Craig Wapnick, a key feature of the race is that riders have the unique opportunity to cycle across remote farmlands of all description. "The farmers not only build special tracks across their lands but also demonstrate their renowned hospitality at the nine race villages along the route," said Wapnick.

  "With the assistance from the farming community, one really has a great feeling that everyone is one big family," said Liggett. "I like that."

  Liggett is known for supporting various initiatives around the globe, including seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong's Ride for Lance campaign.

  He was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2005 for services to cycling and was inducted into the British Cycling Hall of Fame last year.

• National champions Buys and Bassingthwaighte partner for Cape Epic

  

  Article published:

  March 16, 2011, 17:15

  By:

  Cycling News

  Duo aims for stage win as training for cross country objectives

  The 2010 South African Under 23 national cross country champion Philip Buys will be teaming up with good friend and Namibian cross country champion Marc Bassingthwaighte for the eighth edition of the Absa Cape Epic, taking place from March 27 to April 3. With an impressive first place in the Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Mountain Bike Challenge as well as the Emperors Palace Mountain Bike Challenge in 2011, Buys is fully prepared for his third Cape Epic.

  Durban-born Buys is back for more this year owing to his past enjoyment of the race. "It's a great opportunity to ride and mingle among the world's best riders, and then you realise what the sport is all about. Both Marc and I have more or less the same goals for the Cape Epic and the rest of the year," said Buys.

  "Philip and I are good friends and we're like-minded, as well as focused on the same goals so we prepare similarly. We are both win hungry and together we want to try to at least win a stage," said Bassingthwaighte.

  Buys, 22, known in the cycling community as a man who is not happy with second place, has completed an impressive seven races in 2011 already including the Cape Argus Mountain Bike Challenge, The Emperors Palace Mountain Bike Challenge, MTN Sabie Ultra Marathon, MTN Clarens Ultra Marathon, MTN Attakwas Ultra Marathon, MTN Barberton Ultra Marathon and the UCI African Cross Country Championships. His strong point when it comes to mountain biking is his technical riding.

  Bassingthwaighte, a regular on the podium for top three finishes in cross country races, said their focus for the 2011 Cape Epic is not much different. "We train to race cross country so our interest is not so much in the long distance or overall win. We'd like to select a shorter stage and go for a stage win. We both have shown that we can hold onto the wheels of top riders in past races this year already." Bassingthwaighte participated in the Common Wealth Games as a member of the Namibian team in both 2002 and 2006.

  The cycling duo trains together about twice a week. "We're both based in Pretoria at the moment and ride for the same professional team, so we do train together occasionally, but mainly follow our own structured training plan," Bassingthwaighte said.

  "My training is more focussed on cross country racing, so it's mostly power and speed training. I did some longer rides, but not much over 5.5 hours. We have a supplement sponsor, so they help us a lot with our diets," Buys said.

  Buys explained that one of the keys to success in the Cape Epic is proper nutrition. "Prepare for the race! Prepare your body and have reliable equipment. Also, eat as much as you possibly can before, during and after the race. Try to eat your entry's worth of food and have lots of fluids. Have a recovery drink within the first 30 minutes of a stage completion. Enjoy riding, the rest will come by itself... only do the race if you are 110 percent ready for it. This race can make or break your career!"

  Bassingthwaighte suggested pacing was also important, especially in the early stages. "Have fun and don't race for the 349th place, check the scenery and buy lots of chamois cream."

  Bassingthwaighte shared some words of wisdom he's learned in his career. "Cycling never gets easier, you just go faster. So if you really want to achieve anything in sport, you have to work hard all the time, not just some of the time". He's hoping to become fast enough to meet his goal for 2011 - a top 20 at a World Cup - and if possible, at the opening Pietermaritzburg round.

  Buys, who also enjoys guitar playing, enduro motorbike riding, bow hunting, photography, RC chopper flying, fishing and rock climbing, is studying at UNISA. His goal in 2011 is to make a top 30 placing at the cross country world championships and to qualify to represent South Africa at the Olympics. "To add to that, I would like to win a few of the South African cross country races and pass all (two) of my subjects that I have registered for at UNISA," he said.

• Bishop and Gould are early leaders in 2011 Pro XCT

  

  Article published:

  March 16, 2011, 19:49

  By:

  Cycling News

  Mata, Prado top Pro UET standings

  Jeremiah Bishop (Cannondale) and Georgia Gould (Luna) are leading the US Pro Cross Country Tour (Pro XCT) standings after one round.  This past weekend marked the unofficial start to mountain bike season at the US Pro Cross Country Tour (US Pro XCT) opening round on March 12 at Bonelli Park in San Dimas, California. The event also doubled as round one of the US Cup's Triple Crown.

  In a heated men's cross country race that in which nearly 80 men toed the start line, Bishop claimed the win after taking the lead from Sid Tableray in the final lap. Max Plaxton (Specialized) rode to second place while Todd Wells (Specialized) rounded out third.

  Picking up where she left off last year, Gould started her season right with a win in the women's cross country contest. After riding solo at the front for most of the race, the Colorado rider crossed the finish line more than two minutes ahead of runners-up Lea Davison (Specialized) and Krista Park (Cannondale-NoTubes)

  Among the U23 men, Stephen Ettinger (BMC Mountain Bike Development Team) is currently the top rider after a 10th place finish. He is ahead of second- and third-ranked U23 athletes Kerry Werner (BMC Mountain Bike Development Team), in 18th place, and Mexican rider Alejando Barahas (Mexican National Team), in 26th place.

  Lydia Tanner is the top female U23 athlete in the women's Pro XCT standings, in 10th place. She's followed closely by fellow U23 riders Erica Zaveta (BMC Mountain Bike Development Team), in 14th, and Kaila Hart (Fort Lewis College), in 17th.

  See Cyclingnews' full coverage of the elite men's and elite women's US Pro XCT cross country races.

  The second round of the US Pro XCT will happen in Fontana, California on March 26.

  Prado, Mata lead US Pro UET series

  The US Professional Ultra Endurance Tour (Pro UET) also started this past weekend on March 12 with the Spa City Extreme 6-Hour in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

  Pua Mata (Sho-Air) took the win in the pro women's field ahead of Andrea Wilson (Mid South Velo). In the men's event, Manny Prado (Sho-Air) claimed the podium's top step while Lee Unwin and Nathan Rice (Gearhead Outfitters) were second and third. After one event, Mata and Prado are the first leaders in the 2011 Pro UET standings.

  The Pro UET will take a nearly four-month hiatus with the next race being Breckenridge, Colorado's Firecracker 50 on July 4.

  See Cyclingnews' full results from the Spa City Extreme 6-Hour.

  US Pro GRT to get underway in April

  The first US Pro Gravity Tour (Pro GRT) event will take place next month. The series will kick off April 9-10 with the NW Cup in Port Angeles, Washington.

  USA Cycling National Series Standings

  Elite men US Pro XCT standings after one round

  #	Rider Name (Country) Team	Result
  1	Jeremiah Bishop (Cannondale Factory Team)	190	pts
  2	Max Plaxton (Specialized)	180
  3	Todd Wells (Specialized)	170
  4	Sid Taberlay	160
  5	Raphael Gagne (Rocky Mountain Factory)	150

  Elite women US Pro XCT standings after one round

  #	Rider Name (Country) Team	Result
  1	Georgia Gould (Luna Pro Team)	190	pts
  2	Lea Davison (Specialized)	180
  3	Krista Park (Cannondale-No Tubes)	170
  4	Emily Batty (Subaru-Trek)	160
  5	Chloe Forsman (BMC Mountain Bike Development Team)	150

  Elite men US Pro UET standings after one round

  #	Rider Name (Country) Team	Result
  1	Manuel Prado (Sho-Air)	60	pts
  2	Lee Unwin	40
  3	Nathan Rice (Gearhead Outfitters)	30

  Elite women US Pro UET standings after one round

  #	Rider Name (Country) Team	Result
  1	Pua Mata (Sho-Air)	60	pts
  2	Andrea Wilson (Mid South Velo)	40

• Eastern States Cup downhill announced

  

  Article published:

  March 16, 2011, 20:32

  By:

  Cycling News

  11 races set for New England series

  The Eastern States Cup is heading into its second year with four new venues. The 2011 USA Cycling Regional Championship Downhill Mountain Bike Race Series will kick off in early June.

  Pat's Peak, New Hampshire; Attitash, New Hampshire; Killington, Vermont; and Whiteface, New York join existing venues Plattekill, New York and Mount Snow, Vermont.

  Within the Eastern States Cup, three separate state championships will be contested. Plattekill and Whiteface will host four races for the New York State Championship. Mount Snow and Killington will host four races for the Vermont State Championship while Pat's Peak and Attitash will decide the New Hampshire State Championship with two races over two weeks.

  The Eastern States Cup will support junior racers by offering a $600 bonus to be split between the top three category 1 under 18 male racers. Elite men and women will split up to $1,200 per race and $1,600 for the final standings.

  2011 Eastern States Cup Downhill Race Dates
  June 4-5: Round 1 - Mountain Snow, Vermont - Vermont Championship #1
  June 11-12: Round 2 - Pats Peak. New Hampshire - New Hampshire Championship #1
  June 18-19: Round 3 - Attitash, New Hampshire - New Hampshire Championship Finals
  July 2-3: Round 4 - Plattekill. New York - New York Championship #1
  July 16-17: Round 5 - Mt. Snow. Vermont - Vermont Championship #2
  July 23-24: Round 6 - Plattekill. New York - New York Championship #2
  July 30-31: Round 7 - Killington Vermont - Vermont Championship #3
  August 20-21: Round 8 - Mt Snow. Vermont - Vermont Championship finals
  September 3-4: Round 9 - Plattekill. New York - New York Championship #3
  September 10-11: Round 10 - Whiteface, New York - New York Championship Finals
  October 9-10: Finals - Plattekill, New York

• Tour de Timor route released for 2011

  

  Article published:

  March 17, 2011, 01:21

  By:

  Cycling News

  "Peace begins with me" is theme of this year's mountain bike stage race

  The Tour de Timor will return for its third year on September 11-16 2011. The mountain bike stage race will be run with the theme "Peace begins with me" and is hosted by President José Ramos-Horta and the Government of Timor-Leste. Organizers have announced the route and dates for this year's edition.

  "The 2011 Tour de Timor is an auspicious occasion for this young nation. With the enormous success of the first and second iterations, it is fair to say that the Tour de Timor has become a memorable annual event on the calendar for both professional cyclists and tourists alike," said President Ramos-Horta.

  "The Tour de Timor is the most participated event of the year with thousands of Timorese in the cities, towns and most remote villages turning out daily on the streets to welcome you to their neighbourhoods and cheer on their riders."

  In 2010, 75 Timorese competed in the event with the Da Costa brothers regularly making the top 10 among the foreigners. They will be aiming for a podium finish this year.

  "This year you will visit my childhood mountain village of Laclubar as well as the spectacular far East of the country," said Ramos-Horta. "I am once again delighted to invite riders from around the world to join us, to experience the toughest mountain bike race in Asia, and to join us in celebrating peace for Timor-Leste.

  President Ramos-Horta initiated the Tour de Timor in 2009 to assist in consolidating peace and national unity in Timor-Leste. "I launched the Dili 'City of Peace' Programme to cultivate peace in the country. The Tour de Timor is a multi-day event that crosses the rivers, the mountains, and the jungles taking in much of the interior. It is unique also because you are crossing through a country that witnessed so much violence and devastation and today is at peace, evidence that when human beings have dreams and wish to work toward obtaining those dreams, we can".

  In September 2009, following the successful completion of the inaugural event, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade dropped its travel warning for East Timor from the second highest travel warning "Reconsider your need to travel" to the next level down, putting it on par with countries such as Brazil, India and the Philippines.

  From start to finish, the riders are tested with several kilometres worth of climbing as they cross the 2,500-3,000m peaks over the spine of the country. They are treated to views of seas on both the North and South coasts of the country, views of rainforests and rice paddies, mountain villages and rural children. They are pushed to compete across conditions ranging from extreme heat and dryness to constant rainfall.

  The Tour de Timor this year will take place over six days rather than the normal five. This is because the Tour will be heading across over 500km of assorted roads and tracks to get all the way to the Eastern-most district of Lautem. The 2011 Tour will leave behind last year's mountainous terrain to instead take in the gorgeous beaches and coastal landscapes of the East.

  Prize money for 2011 will be in excess of US$100,000 with the first male and female racers taking $15,000 each. Race participation is limited to 350, including 80 Timorese riders.

  For more information about the race, visit www.tourdetimor.com.

• Van Houts free to ride again after Clenbuterol positive

  

  Article published:

  March 17, 2011, 09:39

  By:

  Cycling News

  Convicted but not punished for positive Clenbuterol test

  Mountain biker Rudi van Houts was found guilty of having Clenbuterol in his body, but the Dutch cycling federation said it would not punish him for it. He is eligible to ride again immediately.

  He tested positive in late October of 2010, immediately after returning from a trip to Mexico, and claimed that the product could only have entered his body by eating contaminated food.

  According to the Koninklijke Nederlandsche Wielren Unie, van Houts was not acquitted, but convicted without punishment. “There was Clenbuterol in Van Houts' body,” said Herman Ram, director of the federation's doping authority, to telesport.nl.

  “In this case the disciplinary committee ruled at the request of van Houts and the advice of the doping authority, where we knew there was a violation but that van Houts cannot be blamed for it. There is no punishment imposed.”

  “This is a load off my heart,” van Houts said. “I have been through a very difficult period, but I'm glad it is behind me. I can race again.”

  The Dutch mountainbiker of the year hopes to return to German team Multivan-Merida, where he has ridden the last two years.