English pips Blair and Lefmann in first stage

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World and Australian 24-hour solo mountain bike champion Jason English got two things right pre-race when he predicted that Andy Blair and Aiden Lefmann were the riders he needed to keep an eye on in this week’s Ingkerreke Commercial Mountain Bike Enduro stage race in Alice Springs, NT.

His third prediction – that he would be swallowing their Red Centre dust – he expertly quashed in the final 10 metres from the finish, as he darted ahead to snatch the racing line to take first place for the 49km stage 1 by a mere one second.

The margin between Lefmann and Blair was negligible and they will share second place honours and a time bonus of 10 seconds each. English will have 20 seconds taken off his time and $250 in cash from the day’s sponsor as a stage-winning bonus, plus he claims the right to wear the coveted yellow jersey when they line up tomorrow for stage 2.

“It was fairly technical out there and I was behind the other lads for most of it,” said English, who was the overall winner in 2010. “But I knew I had to get ahead and hold the line, as they are both better sprinters than me. It was my only chance.”

Early on it was Aiden Lefmann who took the fierce approach, speeding off the start line and into the rocky MacDonnell Ranges. Lefmann put in numerous surges but was reeled back every time by Blair and in the later stages by English, who kept his tempo clean and strong.

English’s strategic and course experience played to his advantage with a tight and technical finish playing to his strengths, enough to hold off the two hardy sprinters in the end.

Another notable performance was that of junior racer, 17-year-old Billy Sewell, who came home fourth. Sewell is a protégé of English, who may need to rethink passing on his riding secrets if the young gun pushes any further up the field to threaten his teacher.

In the women’s elite category, Queenslander Anna Beck emerged a clear leader to get her hands on the leader’s jersey ahead of Jess Douglas and pre-race favourite, Jo Wall. Beck is a rider on the rise having registering a third placing in the Australian Marathon Championships. “I was feeling strong and went with it,” said the cross country rider, the length of day one's course suiting her riding style.

Meanwhile, third-place Wall said she felt lethargic in the legs after recently emptying her tanks to win the 24-hour solo nationals. “I wonder if I’ll be able to push up at the front for the rest of the week,” said Wall, who said while the body was feeling it, the mind remains strong and up for a tussle for the rest of the week.

Full results for stage 1 and overall standings