News

Information for athletes in DH at 2012 Oceania MTB Championships, Rotorua, NZ

Category: News

Monday, 30th January 2012

Written by Tony Scott

MTBNZ operate a minimum body armour rule for competitors riding in MTBNZ National and Championship events. This document is to assist riders with the minimum criteria expected; it is not a finite list of acceptable armour as no definitive list is available either from governing bodies or the industry.

Read more: Information for athletes in DH at 2012 Oceania MTB Championships, Rotorua, NZ

Brosnan and Hannah put on a show in Mt Buller

Category: News

Sunday, 22nd January 2012

Written by Stuart Plant

Troy Brosnan (SA) and Tracey Hannah (QLD) won the second round of the Real Insurance Gravity Cup in Mt Buller with amazing times that saw both finish well clear of quality fields.

Brosnan’s time (3:14.14) saw him over 5 seconds in front of team-mate and friend Sam Hill (WA), with Bryn Atkinson (NSW) in third. Brosnan, the reigning Junior World Champion, put together a near perfect run: “It felt amazing, I pinned the whole top section. Things got a bit sketchy in the middle, and I don’t even know how I held on through the bottom section”.

Wearing the “next big thing” label for some time, Brosnan only stepped up to the Elite field this season, and said of his results “First again, it’s just amazing. I have to keep this momentum and keep going strong, this is a really good lead up to the World Cups".

Tracey Hannah (QLD) continued her successful return to the sport after a multi-year break subsequent to winning the Junior World Down Hill Championship. Tracey’s time (3:48.04) was over 7 seconds in front of a field that included American legend and National Champion Jill Kintner.

Hannah said of her race “It was a good run, my goal was to take the win, I’m happy with that”. Every race takes Hannah one step closer to her World Cup and Championship goals for 2012. She was also glad of the presence of Kinter “When internationals race in Australia it makes me push myself a lot harder, I was happy that Jill was coming to Mount Buller”.

Kinter explained “We come to Australia every year for three to four months to train, to take advantage of the Aussie summer. This is the start of a campaign for the World Cups, and I’m making progress daily”.

In the Under 19 categories, Connor Fearon (SA) took the win in an amazing time (3:20.68) that would have placed him fourth in the Elite Field, and Danielle Beecroft (NSW) won the female category.

Today’s action also saw the culmination of the Real Insurance All Mountain Cup, with Stage 3 being a 25 kilometre point-to-point race on the Mt Buller Stonefly trail. Stage 1, a Super D, was held on Friday and the Stage 2 Olympic format Cross-Country was held on Saturday.

Riders set off from the Corn Hill start to ride a course that had something for everyone, with elements that rewarded climbing ability, technical skills and descending bravery.

Paul Van Der Ploeg (VIC) completed the course in 1h 24m 6s, to win by 1m 39s from Andy Blair (NSW). Van Der Ploeg, new to the Elite field from the Under 23 category, was surprised with the win but happy to have his first win in Elite “I’m not usually known for climbing but I pulled away from the field up Stonefly climb and then I had a clear run”. He spoke highly of the course “I was smiling the whole way down, the tracks at Mt Buller are really great”.

Andy Blair was happy with his second place, especially as it let him maintain his series lead. Results can sometimes drive goals, and when asked about his goals for the year, Andy said “I’m now starting to think about trying to win the series”.

A strong performer throughout the weekend, 2008 Athens Olympian Dan McConnell (VIC) won the General Classification across the three events for the Mt Buller round. “I’m happy with that. It’s early in the season, and there is a lot of racing and improvement to come, but it’s started off better than I thought and I’m excited for the rest of the season”.

Jenni King (VIC) won the final stage of the weekend by 1m 36s from Rebecca Henderson (ACT) who suffered a flat tyre on a critical climb.. “It was a really tough race but I enjoyed it, the trails were challenging”. In winning, King wrapped up the General Classification and remains undefeated in the series. “I think I’ve got the right formula this year. I’m trying to be consistent through the racing and peak for the National Championship and the Oceania Championship”.

Results:

Real Insurance Gravity Cup Round 2 Downhill Race Results

Elite Male  

1 Troy Brosnan SA 3:16.58

2 Sam Hill WA 3:19.40

3 Bryn Atkinson NSW 3:23.81

4 Rick Boyer NSW 3:23.86

5 Rhys Atkinson NSW 3:24.02

6 Graeme Mudd  3:27.12

7 Todd Madsen WA 3:28.65

8 Ben Cory ACT 3:28.71

9 Ben Power QLD 3:30.48

10 Angus Maddern SA 3:30.83

Elite Female  

1 Tracey Hannah  3:48.25

2 Shelly Flood VIC 4:15.94

3 Trudy Nicholas  4:20.45

4 Madeline Taylor VIC 4:23.60

5 Michelle Crisp NSW 4:25.71

6 Lisa Mathison QLD 4:31.89

7 Jill Kintner NSW 4:34.16

Under 19 Male  

1 Connor Fearon SA 3:19.19

2 Joe Vejvoda NSW 3:22.52

3 Henry Blake SA 3:23.70

4 Thomas Crimmins NSW 3:25.84

5 David McMillan ACT 3:25.94

6 Jack Moir NSW 3:26.13

7 Dean Lucas VIC 3:26.48

8 Trent Piribauer VIC 3:26.51

9 Luke Ellison NT 3:31.76

10 Brent Smith NSW 3:32.69

Under 19 Female  

1 Danielle Beecroft NSW 4:06.76

Real Insurance All Mountain Cup Round 2 Point to Point Race Results

Elite Male  

1 Paul Van Der Ploeg VIC 1:24:06.5

2 Andrew Blair NSW 1:25:45.5

3 Sid Taberlay TAS 1:25:47.7

4 Neil Van Der Ploeg VIC 1:25:49.9

5 Daniel McConnell VIC 1:26:17.1

6 Joshua Carlson NSW 1:27:30.9

7 Peter Kutschera  1:29:28.1

8 Adrian Jackson VIC 1:30:31.0

9 Matthew Fleming NSW 1:31:18.8

10 Nick Both NSW 1:31:54.9

Under 23 Male  

1 Jack Haig VIC 1:26:36.1

2 Luke Fetch VIC 1:29:17.2

3 Robbie Hucker VIC 1:30:57.3

4 Trenton Day NSW 1:31:01.2

5 Robbie Rhodes WA 1:35:33.8

6 Tom Goddard TAS 1:38:09.6

7 Alexander Meyland VIC 1:49:16.2

8 Blake Polverino NSW 1:53:29.5

9 Ben Marshall NSW 1:55:54.1

10 Kyle Ward NSW 2:12:20.8

Elite Female  

1 Jenni King VIC 1:42:15.1

2 Tory Thomas VIC 1:43:51.5

3 Jodie Willett QLD 1:43:53.4

4 Katherine O'Shea VIC 1:48:10.7

5 Rebecca Henderson ACT 1:50:07.1

6 Peta Mullens VIC 1:50:07.5

7 Jessica Douglas VIC 1:55:31.8

8 Lindsay Gorrell NSW 1:59:51.4

9 Kelly Bartlett VIC 2:01:30.2

10 Sarah Holmes SA 2:05:47.1

Under 23 Female  

1 Jess Wigan VIC 2:23:24.4

Real Insurance National Series rolls into Mt Buller

Category: News

Wednesday, 18th January 2012

Written by Stuart Plant

The exciting Real Insurance Australian MTB Season continues this weekend (Jan 20-22) at Mt Buller in Victoria with Round 2 action. 

The weekend begins with the Super D format, a race open to competitors in both the All Mountain and Gravity Cups. Riders will race 9 kilometres down the Mt Buller Delatite trail, with no less than 12 river crossings on the way down one of the longest gravity mountain-bike runs in Australia.

Both sides of the sport will enjoy the chance to race each other, and Jenni King (VIC) and Joshua Carlson (NSW), the victors from Round 1 in Perth will be in action when racing begins at 3pm Friday.

With the London 2012 Olympics less than 200 days away, riders will be keen to put in quality performances and impress coaches and their competitors alike in Saturday's Olympic Cross-Country racing.

All Mountain Cup season leader Andy Blair (NSW) will look to retain his lead along with women's leader Jenny King. Fresh off her strong summer on the road, Rebecca Henderson (ACT) will make her season debut in Mt Buller and will be one to watch after very impressive national and international seasons in 2011.

Riders will race a fast and flowing five kilometre Mt Buller course that will deliver close racing, with the All Mountain Cup concluding with a 25 Kilometre Point to Point race on Sunday which utilises much of the fantastic Mt Buller trail network.

With podiums stacked with World Champions in Thredbo, Gravity Cup downhill racing returns to the season.

We will see a field worthy of a World Cup, with dual Junior World Champion Troy Brosnan (SA), winner of the event in the first round in Thredbo, headlining the field with team-mate and former triple World Champion Sam Hill (WA).

Both riders announced during Round 1 in Thredbo that they will be racing the whole Australian season, thrilling the mountain bike community. In the women's event, Tracey Hannah (QLD) will headline the action after a successful return to the top level of the sport in Thredbo with a runaway win.

Creating intrigue is the unexpected return to Mountain Biking of Olympian Lisa Mathison. A two-time junior world champion and 2004 Athens Olympics Cross-Country top ten finisher, Lisa has been out of the sport for many years. Entered the Gravity Cup in Mt Buller, and it will be great for all mountain bike fans to see Lisa race again, even more so in the gravity side of the sport.

Practice on Saturday will lead to seeding runs at 4pm, with racing for the Elites being 3pm on Sunday.

The Real Insurance Australian MTB Season will continue the following weekend with the return of Four Cross racing for 2011-2012. A double-header will see plenty of fast and furious Four Cross action in NSW, Saturday in Kurrajong and Sunday in Ebeneezer.

For this weekend's Mt Buller Round, all race information is available at the 2011/12 MTBA National Series website.

2012 CA and UCI Licence Applications now available

Category: News

Saturday, 14th January 2012

Written by Tony Scott

Application for Cycling Australia Value Add and UCI licence upgrade forms and fees are now available. 

Read more: 2012 CA and UCI Licence Applications now available

Women's Mountain Bike Skills in Queensland

Category: News

Saturday, 14th January 2012

Written by Tony Scott

Read more: Women's Mountain Bike Skills in Queensland

2011 MTBA AGM - Update

Category: News

Thursday, 12th January 2012

Written by Tony Scott

As previously advised, the MTBA Annual General Meeting originally scheduled for the 14th January 2012 was cancelled. 

The reasons for this were that we discovered that many members received neither an email or postal notification as is required by the MTBA constitution. 

The new date for the AGM is now confirmed as the 18th February 2012.  Nomination forms for all positions will be available from the 1st of February 2012.  

All previous nominations have been voided.

MTBA apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.