The countdown is on for the Scott 24-hour race in Canberra, Australia. (Image credit: Scott 24 Hour Race)
Local favourite Ben Henderson has teamed up with Nathan Haas, Daniel Braunsteins and Daniel McConnell to ride for Crowne Plaza Canberra as a men's four-man elite team in this weekend's Scott 24-Hour mountain bike race in Canberra, Australia.
Henderson, Haas and Olympian McConnell are in fine form after riding in the recent UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, also held at Stromlo Park, Canberra, in September.
The hotly contested four-man team category was dominated last year by Team GU SRAM Niteriders, who will this year be without the controversial rider Chris Jongewaard.
Jongewaard was last year's winner of the GU Prologue, and his absence will open the floor for a new king of speed. Sid Taberley placed second to Jongewaard in last year's prologue and will be flying back from the US to claim his place as the fastest man on the mountain.
Paul Shaw, the Director of Sales and Marketing at Crowne Plaza Canberra, is confident in the ability of the new team. This is the first year that Crowne Plaza Canberra has entered an elite team in the Scott 24-hour race, and it could be the first year a non-bike industry team takes the title.
"The Scott 24-Hour is a stalwart of the Canberra cycling scene, and Crowne Plaza Canberra is excited to be putting forward such a strong team. If I was a betting man, my dollars would be on the Crowne Plaza team to dominate!" said Shaw.
The Scott 24-Hour will kick off with a prologue on Saturday morning, October 10, followed by the main endurance race. There are over 400 solo riders and over 2,000 team riders competing.
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Over the weekend riders and spectators alike will enjoy a range of exciting entertainment including demonstrations, kids races as well as a trade show showcasing the latest mountain biking accessories, gadgets, and bikes.
Sue George is an editor at Cyclingnews. She coordinates all of the site's mountain bike race coverage and assists with the road, 'cross and track coverage.
