News

Dan McConnell and Jenni King take overall wins in Round 3 of the Real Insurance All Mountain Cup at Stromlo

Sunday, 12th February 2012

Written by Stuart Plant

Read more: Dan McConnell and Jenni King take overall wins in Round 3 of the Real Insurance All Mountain Cup...

McConnell and King score back-to-back Cross Country wins in the Real Insurance All Mountain Cup

Saturday, 11th February 2012

Written by Stuart Plant

Dan McConnell (VIC) and Jenni King (VIC) have backed up their Olympic-format Cross-Country wins in Mt Buller with wins in Round 3 at Stromlo Forest Park in the ACT. Both riders contested tough, exciting races on their way to the top of the podium. 

Read more: McConnell and King score back-to-back Cross Country wins in the Real Insurance All Mountain Cup

Jongewaard and Bec Henderson win the Super D at the Real Insurance All Mountain Cup at Stromlo

Saturday, 11th February 2012

Written by Stuart Plant

Chris Jongewaard (SA) and Bec Henderson (ACT) won the Elite categories in the Super D race in Round 3 of the Real Insurance All Mountain Cup this afternoon in the ACT. Racing took place at Stromlo Forest Park, the iconic venue of the 2009 Mountain Bike World Championships.

Read more: Jongewaard and Bec Henderson win the Super D at the Real Insurance All Mountain Cup at Stromlo

Real Insurance All Mountain Cup heads to iconic Stromlo this weekend

Thursday, 9th February 2012

Written by Stuart Plant

After debuting in Perth and then surviving the heat in Mt Buller, the Real Insurance All Mountain Cup moves to Mt Stromlo this weekend (Feb 10-12) for Round 3. The All Mountain Cup format is new for 2011-2012 with riders competing in three different cross-country formats over three days of racing. Riders collect points from each race contributing to the overall general classification.

Friday afternoon will feature “Super D” racing, a format that challenges the skills of riders with what is essentially a very fast, long DownHill course. With Super D racing booming overseas, riders have been excited that the local season has followed the world trend.

None may be happier about the presence of Super D in the series than Joshua Carlson (NSW), who has won the Elite Men Super D in both rounds so far this season. Super D is racing is a focus for Carlson in 2012, who has plans to spend significant time in the US racing the biggest races.

In the women’s field, overall season General Classification leader Jenni King (VIC) has been in white-hot form, winning both rounds, while 2011 National Cross Country Champion Katherine O’Shea (VIC) was a close second in Mt Buller.

With the London 2012 Olympic Games looming, racing on Saturday is arguably even more important than usual, with riders racing lap-based racing in the traditional Cross Country Olympic format.

While ultimately selection criteria is based on international performances, national-level performances are still important for riders to raise their profile and measure their form and preparation leading up to the international events.

“It’s an Olympic year, and that brings into focus the preparation of our top athletes," said Chris Clarke, Mountain Bike Australia’s National Sporting Director, who due to the vagaries of Olympic methods couldn't confirm the number of positions available on the Australian team.

“In terms of places, we have a guaranteed spot for the men, but for the women, we’re relying on New Zealand.

"They need to stay in the top 18 nations in the world for Australia to pick up the Oceania spot and thus be able to take a female rider to the games,” Clarke added.

In the men’s field, racing has been fairly wide-open in cross-country, with overall season General Classification leader Andrew Blair (NSW) the most consistent across the rounds, winning in Perth and placing third in Mt Buller.

Also racing will be former National Champion and 2008 Olympian Dan McConnell (VIC) who hit form in Mt Buller to take the win, and perennially fast ACT local Dylan Cooper. Missing from action will be another ACT local, Ben Henderson, who has been out of racing since early November due to an illness picked up while racing internationally.

In addition to riders who have been performing well to date, the Stromlo round will mark the return of 4-time National Cross-Country Olympic Champion and regular international Chris Jongewaard (SA) to the series. Jongewaard returns to racing after training over summer, and as always he will be a massive favourite for any local race he enters.

For the women’s cross-country, it’s again Jenni King who has the form in 2011-2012, she’s yet to be defeated in any discipline this season at a national level.

Rebecca Henderson (ACT) will be one to watch with the 2011 Cycling Australia Elite Female Mountain Biker of the year owning a simply outstanding international season last year.

While she hadn’t been back from international commitments long enough to race the Perth round, Henderson had a strong second place in Mt Buller, and will be expected to put in a great performance on her home track.

Point to point racing takes place on Sunday. Riders will complete 25 kilometres of fantastic Stromlo Forest Park trails. With legs still tired from the days before, this race becomes a test of endurance in many ways. Sunday’s winner can come from riders who prefer the longer distances, or sometimes even from a rider who has their Saturday race cut short by mechanical issues and arrives with fresh legs for the point to point.

Canberra Off-Road Cyclists (CORC) will again be the hosts, and CORC are excited that the All-Mountain Cup allows them to show riders the full scope of Stromlo Forest Park’s trail network.

Riders always enjoy heading to the park, it will always bring with it fond memories of the 2008 World Cup and the 2009 World Championships. ACT Territory Venues and Events have been hard at work preparing the trails for racing after rain damage over Christmas.

Super D action takes place from 4pm on Friday. Cross Country Olympic racing is on Saturday, with the Elite Women at 9:30am and the Elite Men at 12 midday. Sunday’s Point to point race is a mass start at 9am.

The rider entry list and full schedule are here.   

Brosnan and Hannah extend outright dominance of the Real Insurance Gravity Cup at Mt Stromlo

Sunday, 5th February 2012

Written by Stuart Plant

After the first 3 races of the season, many are asking what it will take for someone to defeat Troy Brosnan (SA) and Tracey Hannah (QLD) in a National DownHill race, both of whom are consistently winning significant margins from quality fields. Some then go one step further and start to think a little further based on their Real Insurance Gravity Cup form – just how far can these two riders go this year?

Read more: Brosnan and Hannah extend outright dominance of the Real Insurance Gravity Cup at Mt Stromlo

Seeding day sees Troy Brosnan and Tracey Hannah continue amazing run in Real Insurance Gravity Cup at Mt Stromlo

Saturday, 4th February 2012

Written by Stuart Plant

Troy Brosnan (SA), Dual Junior DownHill World Champion continued his simply amazing inaugural season in the Elite category, with another seeding win in the Gravity Cup. Round 3 is taking place at Stromlo Forest Park in the ACT, the venue of the 2009 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships.

Read more: Seeding day sees Troy Brosnan and Tracey Hannah continue amazing run in Real Insurance Gravity...