Squidly Didly
03-02-2008, 11:06 AM
Both National Champion Cross Country Olympic winners, Dellys Starr MELBOURNE/DENVER and Chris Jongewaard ADELAIDE backed up their wins last weekend with another win today the SRAM final of the National Mountain Bike Series held in the Alpine district, Mt Beauty, Victoria.
Starr’s win last week obtained her a position on the shadow team for Australia while Jongewaard is already one of three males on the shadow team. Dan McConnell and Sid Taberlay are also included in the shadow team. McConnell raced today and placed a creditable second. For the Australian fans it will be the last time they see their potential Olympians at a national event before August.
In mid-January the UCI announced that Australia would have one position for a female and one for a male at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
Today’s race, although not a selection race, was still used by many riders to gauge their fitness. Riders will not line up for the Oceania Championships in New Zealand and later the World Cups and World Championships overseas which are seen as important selection events.
For the national series leaders coming into the final of four races today it was a matter of maintaining positions to gain enough points to secure an overall win. Rowena Fry LAUNCESTON in just her first full season after being identified on a National Talent ID Program to prepare female riders for the 2012 Olympics called “Dirt Roads to London” managed a podium at every event this season. Fry is on track to attempt to make the selection criteria for Beijing however performances at international events are vital.
Fry placed third today after being overtaken in the final lap by Kate Potter SYDNEY but takes out the overall series with a total of 245 points. Local rider, Tory Thomas MT BEAUTY finished in fourth place and hence finishes second in the national series with 161 points just one point clear of Dellys Starr, today’s winner, who finishes the series in third. overall.
In the elite men Jongewaard took out the six lap race in 1 hr 55 min 39.2 sec just under four minutes clear of second placegetter Dan McConnell. McConnell moved into second in the second lap with only local Under 23 rider Paul Van Der Ploeg likely to challenge.
“Backing it out from last week was a bit challenging,” admitted Jongewaard. “Cross Country takes a lot out of you week by week.”
“I was a bit sluggish to start,” said Jongewaard. However Jongewaard recorded the fastest lap time of the day on his first of six laps in 18 min 45.7 sec.
Series leader going into the race Dylan Cooper CANBERRA finished in fourth position after being outsprinted by a surge by Van Der Ploeg which saw him cramp just after the finish line. Cooper takes out the series with a total of 226 points. Last year’s series winner Aiden Lefmann MANLY fell back in the field to finish in 24th position but claims second with 173 points.
Today’s winner, Jongewaard finishes the national series in third place with 160 points.
In the Under 23 division it was a local domination with Cal Britten BRIGHT the clear series winner with 116 points while Van Der Ploeg claimed second just six points shy of the top spot. Van Der Ploeg won the National Championships last week in Canberra.
On Sunday the cream of international talent in downhill will line up for the final of the national series. Headlining the field is two time World Champion and World Cup Series winner, Sam Hill PERTH in his only national race in Australia. New National Champion, Nathan Rennie GOLD COAST will line up along with series leader, Amiel Cavalier WOLLONGONG.
The women's field has World ranked number 2, Tracy Moseley UNITED KINGDOM and World number 3 Tracey Hannah CAIRNS as the favourites. Current series leader, Emma McNaughton NEWCASTLE hopes to stay in the lead after the final run on Sunday afternoon.
Full results here (http://forums.farkin.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=93631&d=1202000452) (.doc)
Sharon Payne
Media Manager
Mountain Bike Australia
Starr’s win last week obtained her a position on the shadow team for Australia while Jongewaard is already one of three males on the shadow team. Dan McConnell and Sid Taberlay are also included in the shadow team. McConnell raced today and placed a creditable second. For the Australian fans it will be the last time they see their potential Olympians at a national event before August.
In mid-January the UCI announced that Australia would have one position for a female and one for a male at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
Today’s race, although not a selection race, was still used by many riders to gauge their fitness. Riders will not line up for the Oceania Championships in New Zealand and later the World Cups and World Championships overseas which are seen as important selection events.
For the national series leaders coming into the final of four races today it was a matter of maintaining positions to gain enough points to secure an overall win. Rowena Fry LAUNCESTON in just her first full season after being identified on a National Talent ID Program to prepare female riders for the 2012 Olympics called “Dirt Roads to London” managed a podium at every event this season. Fry is on track to attempt to make the selection criteria for Beijing however performances at international events are vital.
Fry placed third today after being overtaken in the final lap by Kate Potter SYDNEY but takes out the overall series with a total of 245 points. Local rider, Tory Thomas MT BEAUTY finished in fourth place and hence finishes second in the national series with 161 points just one point clear of Dellys Starr, today’s winner, who finishes the series in third. overall.
In the elite men Jongewaard took out the six lap race in 1 hr 55 min 39.2 sec just under four minutes clear of second placegetter Dan McConnell. McConnell moved into second in the second lap with only local Under 23 rider Paul Van Der Ploeg likely to challenge.
“Backing it out from last week was a bit challenging,” admitted Jongewaard. “Cross Country takes a lot out of you week by week.”
“I was a bit sluggish to start,” said Jongewaard. However Jongewaard recorded the fastest lap time of the day on his first of six laps in 18 min 45.7 sec.
Series leader going into the race Dylan Cooper CANBERRA finished in fourth position after being outsprinted by a surge by Van Der Ploeg which saw him cramp just after the finish line. Cooper takes out the series with a total of 226 points. Last year’s series winner Aiden Lefmann MANLY fell back in the field to finish in 24th position but claims second with 173 points.
Today’s winner, Jongewaard finishes the national series in third place with 160 points.
In the Under 23 division it was a local domination with Cal Britten BRIGHT the clear series winner with 116 points while Van Der Ploeg claimed second just six points shy of the top spot. Van Der Ploeg won the National Championships last week in Canberra.
On Sunday the cream of international talent in downhill will line up for the final of the national series. Headlining the field is two time World Champion and World Cup Series winner, Sam Hill PERTH in his only national race in Australia. New National Champion, Nathan Rennie GOLD COAST will line up along with series leader, Amiel Cavalier WOLLONGONG.
The women's field has World ranked number 2, Tracy Moseley UNITED KINGDOM and World number 3 Tracey Hannah CAIRNS as the favourites. Current series leader, Emma McNaughton NEWCASTLE hopes to stay in the lead after the final run on Sunday afternoon.
Full results here (http://forums.farkin.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=93631&d=1202000452) (.doc)
Sharon Payne
Media Manager
Mountain Bike Australia