Squidly Didly
12-10-2007, 08:18 AM
Endurance mountain biker, Andrew Bell will draw inspiration for this weekend’s Scott 24 hr Mountain Bike Championships from his disappointing 24 hour solo World Championship just three weeks ago in California. The 32 year old from Melbourne had to receive medical attention after just 6 hours of racing in temperatures that reached 40 degrees C during the race.
“I went there to podium,” he said. “Even with a 19th overall it was really a disappointment for me.”
The current Australian 24 hour Solo Champion, Bell, intends to redeem himself this weekend in the 2007 Scott 24 hour Mountain Bike Championships. Recovery has been slow for Bell with short six hour rides causing aches and pains.
Bell will use this weekend's event to fine tune his fluid and food intake.
“It’s an on going experiment,” he explains. I plan to knock 10 to 20 percent off the effort and concentrate more on hydrating and on my food intake.”
However winning is never far from Bell’s mind. If a challenge comes from Port Macquarie’s Jason English or Brendan Den (Wingello, NSW), Bell will be ready to counter any move.
“I can’t help myself. I am there to compete,” states Bell.
After placing second in last year’s event to Canberra’s James Williamson, Bell places this event on his 'must win' list. “If I miss this I don’t get another solo race until December,” he said. “For exposure it’s a huge event.”
The ‘Scott’ as it is commonly known is one of the biggest 24 hour events on the world calendar with a massive 2 400 participants. This year sees the event return to its original location at Mt Stromlo after the Canberra fires destroyed the area. The venue will also host next year’s World Cup and the 2009 World Mountain Bike Championship. With a record prize pool of $ 125 000, the event has attracted many of Australia’s shorter distance mountain bikers.
Athens Olympian, Sid Taberlay (Blackman’s Bay, TAS) will race in a four person team alongside the 2006 24 hr Solo World Champion, Craig Gordon (Wollongong). Perren Delacour (Gymea Bay, SYD) and Brent Millar (Canberra) complete the team who are aiming for an overall team prize and the fastest lap, a prize purse of $ 9000. Taberlay recently returned to Australia after racing World Cups, the World Championships and the Olympic test event in Beijing. The fastest lap is expected to be achieved in the first 4 laps after race start at 12 noon on Saturday.
The battle for fastest team could also come from the Pro Team with four Canberra riders Scott Chancellor, Angus Harding and Ben Mather along with junior Australian representative, Nathan Haas .
Last year’s solo winner, James Williamson has paired up with fellow Canberra rider Dylan Cooper and could use the advantage of knowing the course to secure the fastest lap of the race.
German rider, Alexandra Kiendl (Fitzroy) is expected to dominate the women’s solo race while riders like Coffs Harbour’s Justine Leahy are aiming to podium. The fastest women’s lap could see a tough tussle between Canberra’s team riders Niki Fisher and youngster Rebecca Henderson. National Marathon champion, Rowena Fry (Launceston) could also challenge for the $ 4000 prize on offer.
Racing gets underway at 12 noon and Saturday with 600 riders lining up for the “Le Mans’ run start before heading out into the hourglass shaped circuit.
http://www.scott24hr.com.au/
Sharon Payne
Media Manager
Mountain Bike Australia
“I went there to podium,” he said. “Even with a 19th overall it was really a disappointment for me.”
The current Australian 24 hour Solo Champion, Bell, intends to redeem himself this weekend in the 2007 Scott 24 hour Mountain Bike Championships. Recovery has been slow for Bell with short six hour rides causing aches and pains.
Bell will use this weekend's event to fine tune his fluid and food intake.
“It’s an on going experiment,” he explains. I plan to knock 10 to 20 percent off the effort and concentrate more on hydrating and on my food intake.”
However winning is never far from Bell’s mind. If a challenge comes from Port Macquarie’s Jason English or Brendan Den (Wingello, NSW), Bell will be ready to counter any move.
“I can’t help myself. I am there to compete,” states Bell.
After placing second in last year’s event to Canberra’s James Williamson, Bell places this event on his 'must win' list. “If I miss this I don’t get another solo race until December,” he said. “For exposure it’s a huge event.”
The ‘Scott’ as it is commonly known is one of the biggest 24 hour events on the world calendar with a massive 2 400 participants. This year sees the event return to its original location at Mt Stromlo after the Canberra fires destroyed the area. The venue will also host next year’s World Cup and the 2009 World Mountain Bike Championship. With a record prize pool of $ 125 000, the event has attracted many of Australia’s shorter distance mountain bikers.
Athens Olympian, Sid Taberlay (Blackman’s Bay, TAS) will race in a four person team alongside the 2006 24 hr Solo World Champion, Craig Gordon (Wollongong). Perren Delacour (Gymea Bay, SYD) and Brent Millar (Canberra) complete the team who are aiming for an overall team prize and the fastest lap, a prize purse of $ 9000. Taberlay recently returned to Australia after racing World Cups, the World Championships and the Olympic test event in Beijing. The fastest lap is expected to be achieved in the first 4 laps after race start at 12 noon on Saturday.
The battle for fastest team could also come from the Pro Team with four Canberra riders Scott Chancellor, Angus Harding and Ben Mather along with junior Australian representative, Nathan Haas .
Last year’s solo winner, James Williamson has paired up with fellow Canberra rider Dylan Cooper and could use the advantage of knowing the course to secure the fastest lap of the race.
German rider, Alexandra Kiendl (Fitzroy) is expected to dominate the women’s solo race while riders like Coffs Harbour’s Justine Leahy are aiming to podium. The fastest women’s lap could see a tough tussle between Canberra’s team riders Niki Fisher and youngster Rebecca Henderson. National Marathon champion, Rowena Fry (Launceston) could also challenge for the $ 4000 prize on offer.
Racing gets underway at 12 noon and Saturday with 600 riders lining up for the “Le Mans’ run start before heading out into the hourglass shaped circuit.
http://www.scott24hr.com.au/
Sharon Payne
Media Manager
Mountain Bike Australia