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Australian MTB Series #4 - 2
Mt Buller, Australia, January 30-February 1, 2009
Race 1 - January 31: Cross country
Jongewaard charges, King conquers
By Sharon Payne
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Newly crowned national champion, Chris Jongewaard, backed up his win at the Australian titles last Sunday by winning the fourth national series round in Mt Buller.
Jongewaard rode the five laps in an impressive 2:09:17. The newly-developed 8km cross course was unrelenting, and according to Jongewaard, today’s race was tougher than winning the championships last weekend in Canberra.
"I reckon last weekend was a little bit easier for me," said Jongewaard. "The first couple of laps were good but the course is so rough it gets you every lap, so it's very fatiguing out there."
Soaring temperatures elsewhere in the southern states reached over 40 degrees Celsius; however, 400 mountain bike riders at the event were relieved to race in mountain air that was nearly 10 degrees cooler. Many riders still succumbed to the heat and tough conditions, and even for Jongewaard it was the rocks that caused him to struggle in some sections of the course.
"It's so rocky out there - it's unpredictable," he said. "You can't always see all the rocks. You've just got to be smooth and hold your line. Sometimes you hit a rock and it sends you a different direction! It's pretty tough."
Jongewaard didn't regret taking the chance to race away from his Adelaide base, where temperatures soared. "It was a perfect opportunity to get away from Adelaide," explained Jongewaard. "I heard it was 10 degrees cooler up here. A mate and I decided to come up, so we are just enjoying the nice scenery and the good air," he said.
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Jongewaard also keeps his series lead, with only one race remaining. Hobart will host the final national round at the end of February.
Zoe King from Manly won her first race of the national season after sitting behind national champion, Rowena Fry from Tasmania, early in the four-lap race. King pounced on Fry on the penultimate climb and gained a minute on her to secure the victory.
"It feels great, it's a really long day out in the heat. Two hours is a long race anyway and just to be in these temperatures it was hard work. I certainly went out conservatively and tried to stay strong," explained King.
The heat took its toll, with the women riding longer than officials expected - they stretched the race to 2:04:47 - King's time at the finish. "It was just important to save yourself in this heat," said King.
Fry claimed second in a sprint for the line with Mt Beauty rider, Tory Thomas, in third. Fourth was silver national champion, Jo Wall from Bendigo. A respectable placing by Brisbane’s Jodie Willett in seventh place allowed her to keep the series lead.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Evan Jeffery / www.evanjeffery.com.au
- Rowena Fry and Grace Elvin look great in the new kit.
- Spectacular conditions greeted the riders in the women's race.
- National Champion, Rowena Fry leads the race in the first lap.
- Tory Thomas appears comfortable riding at altitude.
- Under 19 National Champion Bec Henderson rides well in the testing conditions.
- Riding in the shade offered some reprieve from the heat.
- Dylan Cooper chases Chris Jongewaard hard all the way.
- Lachlan Norris has a stellar ride and finishes third overall.
- Charlton Drurey rides well.
- Glen Jacobs watches over riders on the trails he designed.
- National Champion Chris Jongewaard does what he does best.
- Ben Henderson off the bike on one of the difficult climbs.
- Chris Jongewaard checks times after the race.
- Former teammates Daniel McConnell and Lachlan Norris shake hands after the race.
- Riders were a mess after the dusty race.
- Zoe King pushes hard to take the win.
- Tory Thomas looks smooth in the dusty conditions.
- Rowena Fry is unable to repeat last week's performance.
- Chris Jongewaard tries to keep cool in the hot conditions.
- Ben Henderson is one of the many riders to have mechanicals.
Images by MTB Australia
- Zoe King was the fastest woman in Mt. Buller
Results
Elite/U23 Men 1 Chris Jongewaard (Avanti,Shimano,JT cycles) 2.09.17 2 Dylan Cooper (TREK-Conceptis) 0.01 3 Lachlan Norris (U23) 5.26 4 Daniel McConnell (TORQ Nutrition) 7.22 5 Neil Van Der Ploeg (U23) (Felt cycles) 8.01 6 Ben Henderson (Mongoose, Sram, Maxxis, Berg Physio, Onya Bike Bel) 8.36 7 Charlton Durie (U23) 9.22 8 Adrian Jackson (Merida, Flight Centre, Schwalbe, Lazer, BBB) 10.15 9 Cal Britten (U23) (TORQ NUTRITION / VIS) 10.57 10 Scott Liston (U23) (felt,SRAM,Innacle Cycles) 11.22 11 Andrew Blair (REDSHIFT (Spats, Sram, Jetblack, Maxxis, Ozriders)) 12.15 12 Paul Van Der Ploeg 15.02 13 Russell Collett (Yeti Cycles, Gu, Fox, TWE Wheels, Kenda) 15.53 14 James Williamson 16.49 15 Sam Bach (Total Rush Specialized) 17.10 16 James Kennedy 19.10 17 Luke Fetch (Torq Nutrition) 19.46 18 Sid Taberlay (Shoair, Sram, Tis) 20.39 19 James Maebus (Torq Nutrition, Oz riders.com.au) 21.08 20 Josh Carlson (Spearman Cycles, FRS Health Drink) 21.21 21 Nick Both (Merida, Flight centre) 21.44 22 Travis Frisby (U23) (SASI) 21.45 23 Ben Hogarth (Giant, Mitcham Cycle Centre, Clipsal) 28.56 One lap behind 24 Joel Ryan (Bike Culture) 25 Paul Traynor (Merida, Flight Centre, Bike Spotz,infinite) 26 Brent Miller (Yeti Gu Fox) Two laps behind 27 Steele Von Hoff (U23) (Torq Nutrition) Three laps behind 28 James Walker (Scott Bikes, Rapido Cycles, Camelbak) 29 Paul Weymouth (U23) (Torq Nutrition) 30 Chris Tassell (U23) Four laps behind 31 Nathan Haas (U23) DNF Murray Spink (Giant Bicycles) DNF David Whitney (U23) (Merida, Flight Centre, Bike Spotz,infinite) DNF Peter Hatton Elite/U23 Female 1 Zoe King 2.04.47 2 Rowena Fry 0.50 3 Tory Thomas (Torq Nutrition) 0.55 4 Jo Wall (TORQ Nutrition) 2.00 5 Joanna Harrington (Gary Fisher / Fineline Bike Shop- Whistler) 3.05 6 Jo Bennett (Merida Flight Centre) 3.46 7 Jodie Willett (Scody, eDiscovery Tools) 4.02 8 Katherine O'Shea (Torq Nutrition) 6.46 9 Trudy Nicholas 11.40 10 Therese Rhodes (U23) 12.44 11 Sarah Holmes (U23) 13.42 12 Sharon Laws (Halfords Bike Hut) 15.15 13 Rebecca Henderson (U23) 19.48 14 Sarah Riley 22.47 15 Bianca Mauch (TLC Cycles, SRAM, Token, Jet Black) 26.47 One lap behind 16 Gracie Elvin (U23) DNF Jenni King (croydon cycleworks, Ryders eyewear) DNF Niki Fisher DNF Kelly Bartlett U19 Men 1 Brendan Johnston (Mongoose Bikes, SRAM, Maxxis, Met, RockShox, Adida) 1.53.17 2 Michael Baker (ONYA Bike Belconnen, CORC, Maxxis) 7.10 3 Trenton Day (Scott Bikes, Breakaway Cycles) 10.09 4 Brenton Jones (Bicycle Superstore GT Bicycles) 12.52 5 Glen Sinnott 14.23 6 James Peacock (Merdia Flight Centre) 17.28 7 Phillip Bellingham (KONA) 18.25 8 Ryan Macanally 19.54 9 Mitchell Codner (GU Energy Gel) 23.54 One lap behind 10 Stephen Pitt (blackman cycles) DNF Cameron Ivory U19 Female 1 Shelly Flood 1.30.45 Super Masters Female 1 Peggy Douglass 39.47 Sport Female 1 Nicole Hahn 1.30.02 Grand Masters Men 1 Ashley Grivell (Aldgate Bike Shop) 44.08 Super Masters Male 1 Stephen Flood 1.10.51 2 Hans Werner 8.11 3 Martin Griffith (Switchmode Power Supplies) 21.58 Master Men 1 Justin Wornes (The Fitzroy Revolution) 1.26.34 2 Evan James (Bicycle Express Adelaide) 2.11 3 John Henderson 5.56 4 Brett Callett 6.41 5 Andrew Hall (Great Divide Coffee) 6.51 6 Brian John (brunkswick street cycles) 6.54 7 Craig Peacock (Merida Flight Centre) 10.24 8 Mark Codner 18.48 9 Richard Eisner 19.04 10 Marcus Langham 24.51 One lap behind 11 Gerard Brislin DNF Darren Davis Veteran Men 1 Aaron Knight 1.39.50 2 Peter Kreilis 1.00 3 Nick Rudzki 13.53 4 Thomas McMunn 16.06 Two laps behind 5 Daniel Burgess (berettas bike hub) DNF Scott Needham (Leadtec) DNF Mark Webber (The Fox Hole) Expert Men 1 John Groves 2.01.31 2 Damian French (Treadlies Bike Shop) 1.11 3 Sean Hurley (Orbea, Catlike, Northwave) 5.57 4 Ashley Hayat 8.12 5 Andrew Choma (trailmix) 8.37 6 Mulin Spranz 11.19 7 Carson Tully 17.46 DNF Simon Wright (salsa cycles / trailmix) DNF Rohan Smith U17 Male 1 Jack Haig 1.31.06 2 Rowan Brown (Busselton Avanti Plus, Dept Sport and Recreation) 0.58 3 Alexander Meyland (Rock and Road Cycles / Giant bicycles) 2.47 4 Jacob Langham (Mum & Dad) 10.30 5 Cameron Rybnsk 12.17 6 Thomas Phillips 17.31 7 Michael Crosbie 22.43 8 Joe Vejvoda 25.06 9 Tim Beaver 42.03 DNF James Hanus (Lifecycle Bicycles, AvantiPlus, PeakFuel Nutrition) U15 Male 1 Ben Bradley (Team Sho-Air/Sram) 1.11.07 2 Hamish Prosser 3.28 Sport Male 1 Nathan Perkins 1.10.00 2 Simon Carr 4.20 3 Tim Rowe (BikeNow) 12.01 4 Rick Stillman (The Fox Hole) 21.21 5 Peter Figg 27.53 6 Mark Webber (The Fox Hole) 36.27 One lap behind 7 Lucas Pitt 8 Jarrod Acfield DNF Nicholas Eagle DNF Haydn Williams DNF Sam Foster (Cunliffe and Waters)
