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Australian National MTB Championships - CN

Mt Beauty, Australia, January 14-15, 2006

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Race 1 - January 14: Elite/U23/U19 Women (Commonwealth Games selection)

Starr takes the jersey and Comm Games spot

By Mikkeli Godfree in Mt Beauty

Dellys Starr
Photo ©: Mikkeli Godfree
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With Commonwealth Games selection at the forefront of at least four or five riders' minds, the elite women's start was tense, and the pace ferocious. With all eyes on Lysterfield performers Claire Baxter, Emma Colson (Top-Bike Tours - Giant - Geax), and Jenni King (Spoken), it was with great surprise that everyone saw Dellys Starr come through nearly a minute ahead of the pack of favourites comprising the aforementioned three, with Tory Thomas (Scott Bikes-Netti Atom-Rock Shox) tacked onto the back. There was no love lost between the latter four as the tight group fought for front position before the entry to the long singletrack sections.

Despite carrying a commanding lead, there was a major chink in Dellys' armour - a crash very early on in the race had buckled her wheel and bent her derailleur. A quick trail-side bash and tweak got the bike going again but the extremely driven Dellys was clearly feeling the pressure of a pack close behind, gnashing its teeth and a bike that was not guaranteed to get her home.

By the end of lap two, Jenni King had dropped off the pace and both Claire and Tory were looking the better of the rest with Emma seeming to struggle. With trouble up ahead and the troops weakening behind, Claire made her move and Tory went with it. The two managed to distance themselves from a frustrated Emma and than started to close in on the lone leader.

The final lap was where it all happened though. With Dellys having slipped back into striking distance of Claire and Tory, the race was wide open. As Dellys was caught early in the final lap, Tory sat like a hawk just behind the leading pair in the hope that their battle would take its toll.

Claire Baxter
Photo ©: Mikkeli Godfree
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With half a lap to go, Claire made her bid for the win and hit the front for the first time. With all but a descent between the top three and the finish, Dellys dug her heels in and clawed her way back to Claire and slipped back into first just before the track headed downhill for the last time. This was the winning move and with a clear track ahead of her, Dellys was able to take the win by a slim 29 seconds ahead of Claire, and 43 seconds ahead of Tory while a disappointed Emma Colson finished in fourth over 2mins down.

It was a fantastic showing from the women, particularly Dellys whose win marks her return to the Australian mountain biking scene after some time out racing X-terra in America. The eternal bride's made, having come 2nd in XC national championships four times, Dellys made sure it didn't happen a fifth time.

"I've been chasing that one for a while...with the early mechanical which kept on throwing my derailleur into my wheel, and having to keep stopping to jump on my tacoed rim, it was very stressful - a tough one! I didn't have my hopes hanging on this win and qualifying for the Commonwealth Games - but I'm stoked that I've done it! It's good to win again!"

It wasn't Emma Colson's day
Photo ©: Mikkeli Godfree
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There is also a story behind Tory Thomas' ride, as the new Mount Beauty local was told less than ten months ago that she wouldn't be able to ride again after being hit by a car and shattering her pelvis. The dual Australian 24hr champion's result here today is a testament to Tory's strength and character. "My season goal was to get a podium and I'm totally stoked to have achieved it, because I wasn't sure how realistic that goal was...they did tell me in hospital that I would never ride again. I think my accident just made me more 'body aware' - I have to go to the gym and do efforts and I've become better at training my body. Now I want to do Oceania's and have a crack at the World's."

Lisa Mathison's win in the U23 told a story too. Apart from marking Lisa's return to form (also taking 6th spot overall), it is the first time an U23 category had been up for grabs. It was very timely for Lisa who appreciated the fact that she could call herself the U23 national champ as she begins her road back to the top.

Like Josh Fleming in the men's race, Lisa won on this track in 2002 but having taken some time off, these championships were, in Lisa's words: "a stepping stone...and I'm looking forward to World Championships - I'm going to focus on that 100 percent and I think that I'll be able to achieve what I want to do. I've got the desire back in the head and the strength is back - I'm looking forward to it. I've been waiting for them to introduce this category for years and now, for me, it's the perfect timing. I've achieved a goal I had set and I've got the confidence to achieve others."

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Mikkeli Godfree/Cyclingnews.com

Results

Elite Women
 
1 Dellys Starr (Sports Garage Boulder Colorado)                          1.44.05
2 Claire Baxter (Le Tour Cycles Kathy Watt Personal Training)               0.29
3 Tory Thomas (Scott Bikes/Netti Atom, Rockshox, SRAM)                      0.43
4 Emma Colson (Topbike Tours; Giant; Geax Tyres)                            2.08
5 Jenni King (Spoken Bike Shop)                                             3.49
6 Lisa Mathison* (Mongoose)                                                 4.57
7 Niki Fisher (Trek, Assos, Powerbar)                                       5.18
8 Niki Gudex (Scott. Srm. Oakley.)                                          5.35
9 Jill Burston (Rider's Choice)                                             8.23
10 Erica Oldfield* (Avanti, Nrg, Qld Academy Of Sports)                    10.09
11 Lee Schultz (Gap Cycles)                                                10.10
12 Caroline Jackson (Fitzroy Cycles)                                       11.02
13 Kimberley Fleming (Clarence St Cyclery)                                 11.23
14 Sam Jesney (Bowden/Pimm Bike Ride Ryders Sunglasses)                    11.57
15 Jacqueline Hickey                                                       14.12
16 Rhonda Pearce (Riders Choice)                                           14.34
17 Erica Gurner (Spoke(N))                                                 15.08
18 Donna Hamlin (Mongoose Bicycles, SRAM Bicycle Components)               15.30
19 Vinca Low (Spoke(N))                                                    16.57
20 Jaci Low (Sorc)                                                         17.52
21 Athena Wilson (St Kilda Cycles; Cannondale)                             18.07
22 Naomi Williams (Felt, Hutchinson)                                       19.45
23 Kim Mccormack                                                           21.28
24 Claire Garcia-Webb                                                      22.07
25 Kelly Bartlett                                                          28.20
26 Rebecca Armstrong (Riders Choice)                                       28.49
27 Nicole James                                                            28.52
28 Claire Graydon                                                          35.15
29 Joanne Hall (Giant)                                                     38.34
30 Rebecca Mcconnell                                                1 lap behind
DNF Rosemary Barnes (Mal Adjusted)                                              
DNF Imogen Smith (Iron Horse Bikes, Race Elements, Gap Cycles)                  
 
Under 19 Women
 
1 Kelly Hughes (Crown Project Services)                                  1.48.49
2 Gracie Elvin (CORC)                                               1 lap behind
 
* U23 Women