Australian Mountain Bike issue 103 is out this Wednesday, with a massive 16 page World Champs photo special. The very best shots from the biggest event in Australian mountain bike history, plus a full wrap up of the defining moments that made this World Championships so incredible. Don’t miss this special issue, it’s a keeper.
World Cup DH #8 Schladming - Hill wins!!! (17 comments) (link) Monday, 21-September-2009 08:16 AM - by Scott
In what was a very exciting World Coup final that went right down to the last run, Sam reclaimed his title for both World Cup overall and king of Schladming.
Men: 1 HILL Samuel AUS 4:01.10
2 BLENKINSOP Samuel NZL 4:03.43
3 MINNAAR Greg RSA 4:04.71
4 GWIN Aaron USA 4:08.07
5 FAIRCLOUGH Brendan GBR 4:08.93
6 LEOV Justin NZL 4:09.28
7 PEAT Steve GBR 4:09.35
8 BRYCELAND Josh GBR 4:09.37
9 STROBEL Luke USA 4:09.59
10 PASCAL Mickael FRA 4:09.89
... 15.DELFS Mitchell AUS 4:13.30
27 HANNAH Michael AUS 4:16.23
36 KOVARIK Chris AUS 4:18.83
48 O'CONNOR Shaun ° AUS 4:20.65
57 RISCHBIETH Will AUS 4:22.82
78 BUTTON Joshua AUS 4:38.23
World Cup #8 Schladming 4x Results (0 comments) (link) Sunday, 20-September-2009 9:14 PM - by Scott
Graves wins again!!! Sure, he'd already one the World Cup overall, but why not end on a high. That makes 5 wins from 8 rounds.
Men: 1. GRAVES Jared AUS
2. SALADINI Romain FRA
3. FISCHBACH Johannes GER
4. WICHMAN Joost NED
5. ATHERTON Dan GBR
6. TSCHUGG Guido GER
7. POLC Filip SVK
8. BEAUMONT Scott GBR
9. SLAVIK Tomas CZE
10. CAMPBELL-JENNER Patrick
Women:
1. BEERTEN Anneke NED
2. MOLCIK Anita AUT
3. CURD Katy GBR
4. SUEMASA Mio JPN
Some highlight from the 4x are at the end of this video.
World Cup #8 - Schladming Qualifying (35 comments) (link) Saturday, 19-September-2009 07:56 AM - by Scott
World Champs Replay on SBS this Sunday (6 comments) (link) Friday, 18-September-2009 11:25 AM - by Scott
SBS have a one hour segment showing the highlights from the Canberra World Championships. It will be aired at 11:30am Sunday for Australia's east coast. Check the program guide here for your state's time.
World Cup #8 - Schladming Day One (10 comments) (link) Friday, 18-September-2009 10:31 AM - by Scott
Ride Calendar 2010 (2 comments) (link) Monday, 14-September-2009 08:37 AM - by Scott
Just a shout out to let you all know that the new Ride Calendar is available for purchase. For those that don't know, this is what it's about.
Ride Calender 2010 is a non profit initiative from Design by Peppi. The Calendar features 12 high profile riders from around the world who have been injured in cycling related accidents. The calendar aims to demonstrate the way these people have dealt with the tragedy and highlights the inspirational steps they have taken, and are taking, to live their new lives.
All profits from the sales of Ride Calendar 2010 will go towards two charities – Wings for Life and Brain Foundation. These charities provide funding for research into brain and spinal injury.
Click on the image for more info.
Mont of National Geographic (0 comments) (link) Thursday, 10-September-2009 7:10 PM - by scratchy
OK, you probably missed it when it first aired on Saturday the 5th because you were to interested in the worlds. But Friday the 11 Sept at 10:30pm and Sat 12th at 10:30am and 4:30pm you get a chance to check it out again.
Only a half hour vid. the film maker sent me a copy managed to watch it tonight, it follows two teams one female, one male pro. A great one for the ladies to watch.
One for the Enduro fans.
Name the frame and win (6 comments) (link) Thursday, 10-September-2009 11:00 AM - by scratchy
Craftworks are needing a name for one of their new frames, here's a look at it
But here's the sweet part, they'll give you one of their new DH frames if your the winner!
Closes the 14th of September so get your creative juices flowing
email to promo@craftworkscycles.com with what they want to call our DJ frame followed by YOUR name in the subject line.
Good luck!
MTBA 09/10 National Series (22 comments) (link) Wednesday, 9-September-2009 9:17 PM - by Scott
The 2009-2010 National MTB series venues and dates have been confirmed.
They are:
Round 1: Glenorchy MTB Park, Tasmania - December 12-13 2009
Round 2: Shepparton, Victoria - January 23-24 2010
Round 3: Thredbo, NSW - February 13-14 2010
Round 4: Stromlo Forest Park, ACT - March 13-14 2010
Together with the Australian MTB Championships in Adelaide 13-17 January 2010 and the Oceania MTB Championships in New Zealand on March 19-21 2010 the quality of the venues and level of competition is set to be the best yet.
All National Series rounds are XCO, XCC, DH and 4X as well as the brand new Enduro Series for solos and pairs.
All information will be available from MTBA in the next few weeks.
TBSM/Revolution Fancy Dress Photo Comp (10 comments) (link) Wednesday, 9-September-2009 11:20 AM - by Scott
TBSM have a photo comp with a twist, fancy dress + style photo. Should attract some interesting entries! There's some pretty sweet prizes to be won too..
Canberra Worlds Afterparty (47 comments) (link) Monday, 7-September-2009 09:11 AM - by scratchy
35yr old World Champion Steve Peat refused entry to Casino. No ID. Dissapointing.
First off CORC AMAZING event, so good in fact that everyone was in a good mood and not wanting to suffer hypothermia headed into town to celebrate.
Perhaps the venues could have been warned there was a race in town and they might have a busier Sunday night than Friday (call me crazy)?
It went down like this. Mooseheads was closed. Surely this place SHOULD have been looked at to hold an unofficial after party, open it up and have just the MTBers there!
Surburbia Dickson, not in the city but not far away. Early heaving with locals (and not the ugly sort), stayed chill and many a punter was seen having a good time there, maybe having Mal Adjusted Bike shop only a couple of doors down had got them ready.
Cool rating for worlds 8.5/10
Bourbon Bar just next door to Mooseheads it was the natural choice although MUCH smaller. It got pretty loose (Kovarik no shirt kinda loose). THEN WE DRANK THE PLACE DRY. It wasn't long before the extremely busy Sunday night police shift showed up [/sarcasm], which was probably just as well because people we drinking all kinda weird shit as all the normal liquids were gone, you know that fluro green stuff behind the bar that no one has touched since the bar opened, 10 years ago.
Anyway everyone gets piled onto the road, pretty much all the big names were there and the Union bar is the call.
Cool rating for the worlds 10/10
Union Bar OK so the manager shat himself when a quite night turned into looking out the front to see a hyperactive zombie hord coming at him. The cops had nothing better to do so they had joined us and no sooner had the first order of "6 jugs please" than we got kicked out, but right over the mall was a gay bar with its gay beats pumping.
Cool rating for the worlds. 2/10
CUBE GAY BAR
This COULD have been epic. Settled in for a couple, said hi to the brothers (not many, maybe a dozen). And the bar started to do more business than it has in the last 6 months. The roid munching security guard was on a power trip, but good times were being had by all and the MTB community was doing it's best to play by the bouncers rules (no glass on the dancefloor), except Mitch Delfs who got kicked out as soon as he got his handful of Coronas, don't know that story. Anyway some hot female riders are starting to tear up the dancefloor and the night is looking absolutely EPIC. The Maurice the Bouncer goes on a rage and kills the music, waits until the cops are in the building then kicks us all out.
Now you could conceive that after seeing us coming in, they figured they would let us stay for long enough to get us all to buy one round and then kick us out. Realistically they did more business in that 20 minutes than they had done all week, so if that is the case, it was a bitch move. 0/10
Trouble at the Gay bar...
Casino. OK so at this point we are starting to know the cops pretty well, and it has to be said that we were a polite happy celebratory crowd who were slightly perplexed that we had a pile of money and wanted to spend it and all the Canberra businesses were freaking out (Bourbon bar was cool but dry, Surburbia from all reports was still cool but in the suburbs). The police were polite, professionals and the way they held themselves did their badge proud (maybe they saw Johnny Waddell in the crowd and decided to be on their best behavior).
So by the time we got to the Casino they have been forewarned of the impending customer crisis and have moved into defensive mode. Everyone must have photo ID. I personally witnessed the new world champion Steve Peat refused entry (he didn't look slightly drunk, but he was smiling). Half the Santa Cruz team was similarly bumped and at this point I felt embarrassed to be an Aussie MTBer. 11:45pm in the lobby of the Crowne with Steve Peat and Greg Minnaar both standing there, stumped where to go. Steve because he's not allowed into the Casino without ID, and Greg because he's come back from Surburbia. What happened next I don't know but by 2am Steve with his never say die attitude was in the Casino and it has to be said, the Canberra Casino is shit but at least they didn't kick us out and at least they served us beer.
Cool rating 7/10
THANKS CANBERRA FOR AN AWESOME EVENT BUT YOU NEED TO GET THAT SHIT SORTED, IT WAS VERY UNCOOL BUT YOU STILL COULDN'T BREAK THE VIBE! YEEOOOWW!
scratchy out!
Canberra Worlds Sunday (9 comments) (link) Monday, 7-September-2009 08:10 AM - by scratchy
Well the after party is a post in itself but here is the media release:
CANBERRA WORLDS HAILED A SUCCESS AS PEAT BEATS SILVER MEDAL HOODOO AS
The International Cycling Union has congratulated the organisers of the 2009 MTB & Trials World Championships staged this week at Canberra's Stromlo Forest Park hailing the event a great success.
"On behalf of the UCI I would like to express my thanks and appreciation to the ACT Government, organising committee and volunteers for the outstanding job they have done over the past week," said Mike Turtur, Member of the UCI Board of Management and President of the Oceania Confederation. "This World Championships has been an unqualified success for the sport and we congratulate everyone involved.
"Stromlo Forest Park is a magnificent venue and we have witnessed some thrilling battles this week on the mountain," said Mr Turtur. "The organising committee has ensured a first class experience for everyone from the teams to the UCI officials and, of course, for the thousands of spectators who have come out to support the event."
After six days of competition France topped the medal table with three gold, five silver and three bronze medals ahead of Spain with three gold, two silver and two bronze. Australia finished third on the medal table with two gold, one silver and two bronze medals.
An estimated 40 thousand fans turned out over the six days of racing with the biggest crowds in attendance today lining the 2.4km course to witness British veteran Steve Peat beat his second placed hoodoo in the elite men's downhill. Peat, 35, has four times been a runner-up but today he finally experienced the thrill of donning the rainbow jersey of World Champion.
Riding fourth last in the 63 man field, Peat took the gold medal hot seat from Australian and eventual bronze medallist Mick Hannah and then watched nervously as crowd favourite Sam Hill, South African Greg Minnaar and defending World Champion Gee Atherton of Great Britain all failed to snatch away the gold he had been longing for his whole career.
Peat clocked a stunning 2mins30.33sec to defeat Minnaar, who has won four World Cup events in the last twelve months, by 0.05 seconds or not much more than the blink of an eye. Queenslander Hannah posted a 2:31.02 to overcome former two-time champion, Frenchman Fabien Barel, by just 0.15 for third.
Earlier Emmeline Ragot (FRA) won the elite women’s event, Brook MacDonald (NZL) edged out Australian Shaun O'Connor in the junior men’s and France’s Anais Pajot defended her world crown in a race that saw Australian debutant Holly Baarspul win the bronze.
For Peat, who was the world silver medallist in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2008, today’s victory was going to take a long time to feel like reality.
“I don't think it’s sunk in yet, I just tried to dig as deep as I could, after all these years it’s just unreal," Peat said. Asked if reaching the holy grail of a world title would lead him into a happy retirement Peat said he would ride on.
"Why would it (mean retirement), I've got a full year to wear this jersey,” the veteran said with a wry grin.
"It was pretty emotional putting the jersey on, on the podium knowing I could wear it as World Champion for the next year, I've been trying for a long time and it’s just an unreal feeling."
For Hannah, Peat’s consistency and determination to step up from a minor medal to gold was something to hopefully emulate.
"It'd be a dream to win, I've been racing for 19 years and I've come second twice so I just don't want to come second again,” Hannah said.
Hill, winner of this event in 2006 and 2007, ended up fifth while team mates Nathan Rennie and Chris Kovarik also made the top ten in seventh and ninth respectively. Fellow Australians to feature were Bryn Atkinson (11th), four cross winner Jared Graves (12th), Canberra native Jared Rando (16th) and Mitchell Delfs (27th).
French rider Emmeline Ragot finished third to Great Britain’s Rachel Atherton and fellow Frenchwoman Sabrina Jonnier at last year’s World Championships but with Atherton out of action recovering from shoulder surgery and Jonnier suffering a puncture in the first half of today’s course, the way was clear for Ragot to step to the top of the podium and she didn’t disappoint.
The 23-year-old led at both timing checkpoints to clock 2:50.05 and was a deserved winner from Great Britain’s Tracy Moseley (2:52.54) and American Kathleen Pruitt (2:54.89).
Like Peat, Ragot was struggling to comprehend her win.
“I don't think I really realise I am world champion then I look down at my jersey and I see the rainbow colours and I think maybe I have won but I think it has started to sink in now,” Ragot said.
A devastated Jonnier, who has won medals at five other world championships including gold in 2006 and 2007, finished at the tail of the field.
The top placed Australian was Claire Whiteman (3:08.73) in 15th, followed by Cara Smith (3:17.64) in 19th and Sarah Booth (3:22.80) in 21st. Both Whiteman and Booth improved their times from the official timed session on Friday by six seconds.
The men's junior event was dominated by New Zealand's Brook MacDonald after he set a cracking time of 2:36.49 to edge out Australia's Shaun O'Connor (2:37.67) and Great Britain’s Danny Hart (2:38.76).
"It hasn't come to me yet but I'm sure it will come to me later, I'm stoked," MacDonald said after accepting his gold medal.
MacDonald admitted his race run worked out well on the challenging Stromlo track.
"It was good, pretty stoked with my race run, it's probably the best race run I've ever had, I made one mistake but it didn't bother me, I'm stoked."
O'Connor, who set the benchmark early before being run down by MacDonald was happy with his podium finish.
"I'm really excited, I put my run together, I did exactly what I wanted to do, I've had my coaches here, my manager's here, my mechanics all down here, my family, everything went to plan and I'm really exciting to stand on the podium in front of a home crowd,” O’Connor said.
"We had the national championships here the last two years, so we (Australia) used it as a pre trial for this event, so we had everything dialled from those races, we learnt from those races, how the course changes and about the bike set up. To come here, everything just fell into place."
Of the other Australians, Rhys Willemse was fourth and an agonising 0.55 off the podium, Tamryn Murrell was ninth, Antony Moore was tenth and Laurie Dinham was 37th. Earlier in the day in William Gower was hospitalised following a crash in practice, forcing the 17-year-old out of the event.
In the junior women's event, reigning world champion Anais Pajot of France clocked 3:11.91 to defend her title with compatriot Julie Berteaux claiming second in 3:16.28.
Pajot knew a mistake free run would give her the best shot at claiming gold.
"It was technically very demanding, but after the timed training session I knew I had an advantage over the other riders so just tried to make sure I didn't make any major mistakes,” Pajot said. "I won the world title last year so I knew I was good enough to win, I just had to ride as fast as I could without any mistakes."
Competing in her first World Championships, Australia's Holly Baarspul, 16, finished in a time of 3:20.16 to claim third.
"Feels pretty amazing, first year junior and I'm on the podium so I'm stoked," Baarspul said. "I was expecting to get down the hill safely but to podium was amazing."
After countless years of bad luck, Steve Peat can finally add the World Champion title to his already impressive list of accomplishments. Well done Peaty!
Elite Men
1. Steve Peat GBR - 2:30.33
2. Greg Minnaar RSA - 2:30.38 +0.05
3. Mick Hannah AUS - 2:31.02 +0.69
Elite Women
1. Emmeline Ragot FRA - 2:50.05
2. Tracy Mosely GBR - 2:52.54 +2.49
3. Kathy Pruitt USA - 2:54.89 +4.84+
Junior Men
1. Brook Macdonald NZL - 2:36.49
2. Shaun O'Connor AUS - 2:37.67 +1.18
3. Danny Hart GBR - 2:38.76 +2.27
Junior Women
1. Anais Pajot FRA - 3:11.91
2. Julie Berteaux FRA - 3:16.28 +4.37
3. Holly Baarspul AUS - 3:20.16 +8.25
Canberra Worlds Saturday (1 comments) (link) Sunday, 6-September-2009 07:49 AM - by scratchy
Jongewaard does us proud.
Most Rotorburners might forget but XC Mens is THE race the world watches. It is an Olympic sport and champs here often end up on the podium in the top road races of the world. Having talked to Chris Jongewaard before he considers a top 20 to be a great finish. He dug deep, put in a lot of hurt and came home a very credible 15th 4min35sec behind the winner.
Of the other Australian’s Daniel McConnell finished 32nd, Ben Henderson was 35th, Sid Taberlay 39th, Dylan Cooper 55th and Andrew Blair 61st.
From the press release:
Swiss sensation Nino Schurter has upstaged four time World and reigning Olympic champion Julian Absalon of France in a nail biting finale to the cross country competition at the 2009 UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships at Stromlo Forest Park in Canberra.
Schurter, 23, won the 2004 junior crown, last year claimed gold in the U23 event and today added an elite title to his collection of rainbow jerseys. His team mate Florian Vogel, 27, was third.
It was the most exciting cross country event of the week with only three seconds separating Schurter and Absalon, with Vogel and Spain’s Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos finishing on the same time 58 seconds behind the winner.
Earlier in the elite women's event, Irina Kalentieva of Russia overcame a disastrous start to defeat Lene Byberg of Norway and American Willow Koerber but it was the men’s event that had the massive crowd in raptures throughout.
All four of the top men sat together for the first four and a half 6.47 kilometre laps of the 45.29km race but it was Schurter and Vogel who rode a perfect tactical race for Switzerland.
Schurter sat glued to 29-year-old Absalon's wheel for more than half the race while Vogel shadowed Hermida Ramos as the Spaniard rode hard in a bid to try and bridge the gap to the two leaders.
With less than 1.2km to go Absalon tried to attack but a misjudgement with his gears saw him lose ground and Schurter surged ahead at the final feed zone to win in a time of 2hr04min39sec.
A jubilant Schurter said even though it appeared the course had been made for him he didn’t think he could win the gold from his more experienced and well credentialed rival.
“I’ve had such a bad season but now with this race it’s a dream come true,” Schurter said. “It’s an amazing feeling, the perfect race, perfect course for me. It was very technical and that suits me.
“The whole race I was thinking just to try to stay on his back wheel and race for silver, never thinking I could take the win but at the last feed zone I attacked and got away.”
After the race Schurter praised his bronze medal winning teammate.
“I like courses that are technical and this was the perfect course for me. I was lucky to stay with Julien and maybe without Florian I wouldn’t have been able to do that,” he said.
Meanwhile Absalom, who has won four World Cup events this year, said he was up against it having led most of the race against the Swiss pair and even though he expected Schurter to try and break away he couldn’t respond.
“I was not in a good position. I led, I did most of the race in front,” Absalom said. “This track is fast and it was not possible to get away with the wind, it was hard and the Swiss riders proved that they are the strongest nation together.
“I was expecting the attack in the feed zone (from Schurter) but not as strong.”
Swiss 2008 world champion, Christoph Sauser was well back in tenth and was only ever as close as eighth.
GOLDEN FOUR CROSS DOUBLE FOR AUSTRALIA COURTESY OF GRAVES AND BUCHANAN
In what was a stunning night for Australia at the 2009 UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships at Stromlo Forest Park in Canberra, Jared Graves and local heroine Caroline Buchanan have claimed a golden double in the four cross (4X) events.
Racing under lights, Queensland’s Graves and Canberra’s Buchanan won Australia’s first medals of the championships after both went through the night undefeated before holding firm in the medal round under the enormous pressure the boisterous crowd brought to claim gold.
For Graves, who last year was a finalist in the BMX at the Beijing Olympic Games, the victory was confirmation of his undeniable status as the best 4X rider in the world after he entered these championships as the World Cup Series leader and world number one. He also won the World Cup round in Canberra last season.
Buchanan’s victory was an even more remarkable performance given the young Australian badly injured her back in Austria just six weeks ago training for a 4X World Cup event in Slovenia. While she courageously made it onto the start line to win that event she was subsequently forced to withdraw from the Australian team for last month’s BMX World Championships in Adelaide.
Graves, 26, who was the top finisher in yesterday’s qualifying round and won his round of 32, quarter final and semi final tonight before the medal decider, said he had entered the competition with a telling carefree attitude.
"I felt a bit calmer today than I normally would at a world titles final,” Graves said.
“I was saying to different people earlier in the week that I have lost this race enough to know that life goes on if you don't win it.
"That’s the biggest goal I’ve had in mountain biking so to pull it off just after the bad run of luck I have had in the last three years in a row now is just awesome.
“I knew I had a really good last practice session I knew if I kept it all night I knew I would get it.
"I did that I can’t explain how it feels so it’s just unbelievable."
Graves also said he was helped by his Olympic experience last year.
"I think I have taken my training to another level this year from last year with the Olympic BMX," he said.
"I learnt a lot last year. I think I have come into this year a bit smarter and I mean this is the ultimate race right here.
You know it doesn't get any better.”
Romain Saladini of France, the only rider all night that looked to have any hope of beating Graves, won silver with 17 year old World Championship debutant, Jakub Riha from the Czech Republic third.
Of the other Australians, Leigh Darrell, Ryan Henderson, Sam Willoughby and Beijing BMX Olympian Luke Madill all bowed out in the quarter finals, while Randal Huntington was eliminated in the round of 32.
In the women’s event home town star and 2008 Canberra World Cup winner, Buchanan, 18, won all three of her rounds including a thrilling final to claim the gold medal from last night’s top qualifier and world ranked number three Jill Kintner of the USA.
American Melissa Buhl won the bronze medal. Dutch woman Anneke Beerten, the world ranked number one, missed the final but won the consolation ‘small final’.
A jubilant Buchanan could hardly contain her emotions after winning her gold.
“Out of 13 years of racing I’ve never won a world title, I’ve always been so close but today I just really wanted it,” a teary
Buchanan said.
“I pushed so hard and I feel so sick at the moment (but) I’m stoked, I’m over the moon and I can’t believe it.”
Buchanan said she knew she could win almost as soon as the start gate dropped.
“It felt awesome, I started crying from about halfway down the track, I was screaming the whole way and from the start I knew that I had it. I was psyched up, I was ready. I can’t believe it.”
Sarsha Huntington, the only other Australian in the field, finished fourth in her semi finals before placing third in the ‘small final’ for seventh overall.
MENS XC U23
Aussie placing were:
Australian Lachlan Norris was a credible 11th, 7mins 33sec behind the winner, compatriot Paul Van Der Ploeg was 16th, Cal Britten 19th, Charlton Durie 34th and Nathan Haas 48th.
OBSERVED TRIALS
Australian Janine Jungfels missed a trip to the podium by one place, finishing six points further back than Abant Condal.
Well the weather threatened today but never delivered. There was a lot of action out on the XC trail and with Trials in full swing there was always something to look at.
For most riders from tomorrow it gets a lot more serious.
Gerhard Kerschbaumer, 18, has claimed his second gold medal at the 2009 UCI World Mountain Bike and Trials Championships, taking out the junior mens cross country event in Canberra.
The Lance Armstrong award has to go the Aussie Brendan Johnston who is now officially a Lil Aussie Battla:
"Australian Brendan Johnston covered the 32.35 kilometre course more than 16 minutes slower than Kerschbaumer but by simply being on the start line meant Johnston had won.
A little more than two weeks ago, the 17-year-old from Moruya on the NSW south coast, was undergoing surgery for testicular cancer. Today he was riding in a World Championship.
The fact that he placed a credible 50th of 71 starters and finished on the same lap as the medallists was not the point. Nor was it that he finished fourth of the Australians behind Mitchell Codner (17th), Michael Baker (22nd) and Cameron Ivory (36th). Johnston’s mere participation against the best in the world was.
“I was on the start line which was good enough for me,” Johnston said. “The start was a bit hectic and there was crashes everywhere so I moved up a little bit.
“I was on the lead lap, so to finish 50th out of 71 starters was unreal.”
Riding in pain but determined to do his country proud despite several weeks off the bike in which he inevitably lost conditioning, Johnston won plenty of support as he powered round the five laps of the 6.47km circuit.
“I’m actually feeling alright, it’s definitely painful and I’ve lost a fair bit of fitness. That was the main pain I had,” the brave teenager said.
While Johnston will begin post operative chemotherapy immediately he has his sights set on higher honours on the bike once his health issues are behind him.
“I guess the Olympics is a goal you always think about and to finish this just gives me that positive attitude,” he said. “I was quite down lately, understandably, but this has picked me up which is good.”
A Kiwi gets lost in the outback... On the 4X heading for the "Bungle Bungles"
Trials action was all around and always an impressive distraction.
The unofficial 2009 Pump track champs were held last in someone's backyard. A few of the pro riders took time out to participate in the relaxed and fun competition. Mick Hannah took the title out ahead of Brendan Fairclough and the $2500 that went with it. Go here for more info and a video.
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Under 23 Womans finals
Poland's Aleksandra Dawidowicz, 22, has claimed her country's first medal at the 2009 UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships, taking gold in the U23 women's cross country in Canberra.
Local Canberra rider Rebecca Henderson was spurred on by a vocal home crowd finish in seventh place, her best ever result at this level with the 18-year-old having finished 22nd in the same event at last year’s World Championships.
From the media release:
“I was looking to finish somewhere between fifth and tenth so seventh was about where I’d hoped,” Henderson said. “Everywhere along the course people were yelling my name and the support was there so that was good.”
Whilst many of the international competitors have found the course very challenging, Henderson said it was easier than she had expected.
“The course was easier than when I trained on it a few weeks ago because they had removed a lot of rocks and definitely made the ‘Hammerhead’ easier.”
The race was the last event for Henderson’s in the junior ranks.
“That was a good race to finish on and I couldn’t have expected any more from juniors,” she said.
Of the other Australians Shelly Flood placed 24th at 10min40sec and Gillian Burgess was 26th @13min15sec.
Tomorrow the the junior men will contest their cross country final while the 4X (four cross) riders line up in the qualifying round.
Farkins yours truely spoke to both the Specialized DH riders who confirmed they will ride the SX teams for the DH. As pointed out the SX runs 7" of rear travel. The day had everyone practicing hard on the DH and late on the 4X, some Canadian girls came to grief on the Hammerhead XC but with the sun shining if you hadn't bought the farm on the hammerhead there was very little to complain about.
Out to shatter Aussie Dreams Greg Minnaar was all business.
Canberra Worlds - Day 2 DH practice video (7 comments) (link) Wednesday, 2-September-2009 7:12 PM - by Scott
Canberra Worlds - Day 1 DH practice video (24 comments) (link) Tuesday, 1-September-2009 9:58 PM - by Scott
Canberra Worlds - Day 1 (3 comments) (link) Tuesday, 1-September-2009 6:07 PM - by scratchy
Well blue skys greeted all today, some riders headed out and the first rainbow jerseys got handed out in the Team Relay XC. 4 Riders including one female per team.
The Podium:
1st Italy
2nd Canada
3rd France
3/4 of the Aussie Relay team spinning down.
If anyone calls Chep we're screwed. A bunch of different Trials area makes for some exciting viewing.
Remember to clean up after you've finished drooling.
Rowena FRYing
Click the link for replys and the press release.
Canberra Worlds - What you need to know (11 comments) (link) Tuesday, 1-September-2009 11:07 AM - by Scott
We'll after yesterday's opening, the 2009 MTB World Championships are officially underway. For those of you lucky enough to be in Canberra this week, you may want to check out the official worlds website here. For a full event schedule checkout this document here (pdf). In brief this is how the events will unfold.
Schedule Tuesday
14:00 World Championships Team Relay
Wedmesday
10.30 World Championships XCO Juniors Women
14.00 World Championships XCO U23 Women
Thursday
10.30 World Championships XCO Juniors Men
16.00 4X Qualifying Round
Friday
09.15-13.15 Women OT Final 20''/26''
10.30 DHI Official Timed Session
14.00 World Championships XCO U23 Men 18.30 World Championships 4X Men/Women
Saturday 10.00 World Championships XCO Elite Women
10.30-12.00 Juniors Men OT Finals 20"
14.30-16.00 Elite Men OT Final 20" 14.00 World Championships XCO Elite Men
Sunday
10.30 World Championships Juniors Women and Juniors Men DHI Mt Stromlo
12.10-13.40 Juniors Men OT Final 26'' 13.00 World Championships Elite Women DHI
13.50-15.20 Elite Men OT Final 26'' 14.00 World Championships Elite Men DHI
Ticket Prices
Tickets are on sale now through the Ticketek website – Click here to secure your spot on the mountain!
All tickets include: public bus transport from Canberra City, Woden and Belconnen bus interchanges to Stromlo Forrest Park, car parking at the event venue and all day bus shuttles up and down the mountain.
Ticketed event days include: Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Please note that Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday is free for all you punters that want to get a taste of the action!
1 Day Entry – $20 ($25 at the gate)
3 Day Pass – $50 ($60 at the gate)
Kids Pass - Kids under 10 enter free with an accompanying paying adult
1 Day Family Ticket (2 Adults and 3 Children) – $60 ($75 at the gate)
3 Day Family Ticket (2 Adults and 3 Children) – $150 ($180 at the gate)
Coverage
For those of you that will not be attending the event, freecaster are doing live Internet coverage, so we can all cheer in front of our computers like the nerds we all are. Details will be posted shortly.
There should also be some TV coverage, we'll confirm these times/channels shortly.
Discuss
Our main forum thread to discuss the 2009 Canbera World Champs can be found here.
