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Port to Port MTB Stage Race

31/5/2014

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Day 3 : Hunter Valley - 51 km

A Lost Opportunity

PictureLeaving the start (Flow Magazine, 2014)
On arriving at Briar Ridge Vineyard after a 20 kilometre warm up ride from our accommodation, the news that greeted us was slightly unwelcome. The race organisers had cut the course by 12 kilometres, due to the overly muddy conditions of some of the trails. This would have been great news to most riders, considering the mud-fest the day before, but this meant that my endurance strengths would be less likely to come into play at the back end of the stage. Despite my disappointment, the good news was the sun was shining and the rain was being kept at bay.

The start involved an early pinch climb, a few hundreds metres into the stage, a rapid descent and then approximately five kilometres of climbing. Despite a good warm-up, I felt decidedly average and quickly lost ground on my rivals.

PictureThe early leaders (Flow Magazine, 2014)
At the top of the climb my sunglasses had steamed up to the point I couldn't clear them. We passed the lookout and were soon descending down the Great North Walking Track. The problem was I just couldn't see, but I somehow clumsily  survived the ordeal. Once released onto some open track, I realised I had lost large chunks of time on those ahead. 

I was able to work with others on the short bitumen section, and as we negotiated the Aberdale State Forest Roads, I tried to swap turns with Ben Jacka, who was looking comfortable on his home trails. I eventually lost his wheel and found a new partner in John Elliott, sitting one place behind me in the Masters 1 Category. This proved a fruitful partnership until I took a bad line into a corner, unclipped in a gully and the following crunch (I found out later) was John Elliot launching over the bars. His rear hangar bent, meant I lost his support for the rest of the ride. 

I closed and passed other solo riders, including Craig Barnes, who exclaimed his day was pretty much done and he had no legs to follow. I rode alone to the finish, through the Richmond Vale Railway Museum, a strange and eerie place reminiscing days long since gone.

PictureComing into the finish alone (Flow Magazine, 2014)
This turned out to be an enjoyable day, in terms of riding, but disappointing in regard to the result. I finished sixth in Masters 1 and 47th overall. The Top 4 riders in my category all finished ahead and I now trail Alex Kooijman, in fourth by over a minute.

Tomorrow's final stage will be a power day, incorporating bike paths, stair climbs, Glenrock MTB Park and a beach section, before finishing the event at the spectacular Nobbys Beach Reserve.

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    Author


    ​Level 3 Road & Time Trial Cycle Coach with British Cycling (BC) & the Association of British Cyclists (ABBC)

    National Master Wattbike Instructor


    Cycle Strength & Conditioning Coach 

    ​Cycle Trip Leader

    Sports Scientist (Honours degree in PE & Sports Science - Loughborough University)

    Postgraduate Teaching degree in PE & History (Loughborough University)


    Silver Medalist in WEMBO's World MTB 24 hour 40-44 solo at Finale Ligure, Italy, 2012 

    Silver Medalist at the Australian National MTB 24 hour 40-44 solo, 2012 & 2013

    I have completed several of the World's biggest stage races, including the Crocodile Trophy in Australia, the Mongolia Bike Challenge, the Sudety in Poland and the Andalucia Bike Race

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    Significant Results

    Stage Races
    • Crocodile Trophy 2013, Australia - 5th
    • Port 2 Port 2014, Australia - 4th
    • Sudety MTB Challenge 2014, Poland / Czech Republic - 15th
    • Mongolia Bike Challenge 2014 - 6th

    24 Hours
    • WEMBO World 24 hour Solo, Italy, 2012 - 2nd
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    • Australian National 24 hour Solo, 2012 - 2nd
    • Scott 24 hour Solo, 2012 - 1st
    • Sydney 24 hour, 2011    - 1st

    7 hour Enduro Series
    • Rocky Trail 7 hour Series, 2013 - 1st
    • Chocolate Foot STM 7 hour Series, 2013 - 3rd
    • Chocolate Foot STM 7 hour Series, 2012 - 3rd
    • Chocolate Foot STM 7 hour Series, 2011 - 1st

    12 hour Enduros
    • Sydney 12 hr, 2014 - 1st
    • Sydney 12 hr, 2013 - 1st
    • Sydney 12 hr, 2012 - 1st

    6+6 hour Enduros
    • National 6+6, 2014 - 1st
    • Sydney 6+6, 2013 -    1st
    • Sydney 6+6, 2010 -    1st

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