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Australian National MTB Championships - CN
Mt Beauty, Australia, January 14-15, 2006
Race 1 - January 14: Elite/U23/U19 Women (Commonwealth Games selection)
Starr takes the jersey and Comm Games spot
By Mikkeli Godfree in Mt Beauty
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With Commonwealth Games selection at the forefront of at least four or five riders' minds, the elite women's start was tense, and the pace ferocious. With all eyes on Lysterfield performers Claire Baxter, Emma Colson (Top-Bike Tours - Giant - Geax), and Jenni King (Spoken), it was with great surprise that everyone saw Dellys Starr come through nearly a minute ahead of the pack of favourites comprising the aforementioned three, with Tory Thomas (Scott Bikes-Netti Atom-Rock Shox) tacked onto the back. There was no love lost between the latter four as the tight group fought for front position before the entry to the long singletrack sections.
Despite carrying a commanding lead, there was a major chink in Dellys' armour - a crash very early on in the race had buckled her wheel and bent her derailleur. A quick trail-side bash and tweak got the bike going again but the extremely driven Dellys was clearly feeling the pressure of a pack close behind, gnashing its teeth and a bike that was not guaranteed to get her home.
By the end of lap two, Jenni King had dropped off the pace and both Claire and Tory were looking the better of the rest with Emma seeming to struggle. With trouble up ahead and the troops weakening behind, Claire made her move and Tory went with it. The two managed to distance themselves from a frustrated Emma and than started to close in on the lone leader.
The final lap was where it all happened though. With Dellys having slipped back into striking distance of Claire and Tory, the race was wide open. As Dellys was caught early in the final lap, Tory sat like a hawk just behind the leading pair in the hope that their battle would take its toll.
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With half a lap to go, Claire made her bid for the win and hit the front for the first time. With all but a descent between the top three and the finish, Dellys dug her heels in and clawed her way back to Claire and slipped back into first just before the track headed downhill for the last time. This was the winning move and with a clear track ahead of her, Dellys was able to take the win by a slim 29 seconds ahead of Claire, and 43 seconds ahead of Tory while a disappointed Emma Colson finished in fourth over 2mins down.
It was a fantastic showing from the women, particularly Dellys whose win marks her return to the Australian mountain biking scene after some time out racing X-terra in America. The eternal bride's made, having come 2nd in XC national championships four times, Dellys made sure it didn't happen a fifth time.
"I've been chasing that one for a while...with the early mechanical which kept on throwing my derailleur into my wheel, and having to keep stopping to jump on my tacoed rim, it was very stressful - a tough one! I didn't have my hopes hanging on this win and qualifying for the Commonwealth Games - but I'm stoked that I've done it! It's good to win again!"
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There is also a story behind Tory Thomas' ride, as the new Mount Beauty local was told less than ten months ago that she wouldn't be able to ride again after being hit by a car and shattering her pelvis. The dual Australian 24hr champion's result here today is a testament to Tory's strength and character. "My season goal was to get a podium and I'm totally stoked to have achieved it, because I wasn't sure how realistic that goal was...they did tell me in hospital that I would never ride again. I think my accident just made me more 'body aware' - I have to go to the gym and do efforts and I've become better at training my body. Now I want to do Oceania's and have a crack at the World's."
Lisa Mathison's win in the U23 told a story too. Apart from marking Lisa's return to form (also taking 6th spot overall), it is the first time an U23 category had been up for grabs. It was very timely for Lisa who appreciated the fact that she could call herself the U23 national champ as she begins her road back to the top.
Like Josh Fleming in the men's race, Lisa won on this track in 2002 but having taken some time off, these championships were, in Lisa's words: "a stepping stone...and I'm looking forward to World Championships - I'm going to focus on that 100 percent and I think that I'll be able to achieve what I want to do. I've got the desire back in the head and the strength is back - I'm looking forward to it. I've been waiting for them to introduce this category for years and now, for me, it's the perfect timing. I've achieved a goal I had set and I've got the confidence to achieve others."
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Mikkeli Godfree/Cyclingnews.com
- Cal Britten taking the U19 race by the horns straight out of the blocks.
- Mark Barends and Rohin Adams on the mic - Rohin also raced Elite men.
- Cal Britten dominated the U19 race.
- Matt King near the end of the lap.
- Peter Braunstiens took second spot in the U17 race.
- David Johnson won the U17 race.
- Dan van der Ploeg congratulates his younger brother on taking fourth in U19. Dan's about to start riding again after being hit by a car and spending months in a coma, and was a welcome face back at the races.
- Less than a year after being told she wouldn't ride again, Tory Thomas wanted to get on the podium.
- Emma Colson tense on the starting line as the gun goes.
- It wasn't Emma Colson's day as she ended up in fourth spot.
- Dellys Starr took the number one spot despite bad luck
- Claire Baxter was impressive in second.
- Jenni King was knocking on the door of the podium but couldn't get there.
- Tory Thomas digs in on the final lap to ensure her third place was secure.
- Lisa Mathison has the magic back and took the U23 win.
- Dellys was ecstatic with her win.
- Tony Scott looking equipped to start the race with gun and all.
- Despite having already qualified for Commonwealth games, Chris Jongewaard was serious... super serious.
- Sid Taberlay was jovial before the start.
- Sid - Mr Umbrella-man.
- Chris Jongewaard on the startline.
- Chris Jongewaard took off fast but couldn't hold off Taberlay.
- Josh Fleming was on the hunt and was able to take a strong third place.
- Sid Taberlay was consistently strong in the brutal conditions.
- Dan McConnell was unlucky to flat whilst in the lead of the U23 competition.
- Mark Frendo - the new U23 champ.;
- Enduro king James Williamson in new Giant colours.
- Sid, a few minutes before becoming national champion again.
- Mark Frendo took the U23 win but it showed.
Results
Elite Women 1 Dellys Starr (Sports Garage Boulder Colorado) 1.44.05 2 Claire Baxter (Le Tour Cycles Kathy Watt Personal Training) 0.29 3 Tory Thomas (Scott Bikes/Netti Atom, Rockshox, SRAM) 0.43 4 Emma Colson (Topbike Tours; Giant; Geax Tyres) 2.08 5 Jenni King (Spoken Bike Shop) 3.49 6 Lisa Mathison* (Mongoose) 4.57 7 Niki Fisher (Trek, Assos, Powerbar) 5.18 8 Niki Gudex (Scott. Srm. Oakley.) 5.35 9 Jill Burston (Rider's Choice) 8.23 10 Erica Oldfield* (Avanti, Nrg, Qld Academy Of Sports) 10.09 11 Lee Schultz (Gap Cycles) 10.10 12 Caroline Jackson (Fitzroy Cycles) 11.02 13 Kimberley Fleming (Clarence St Cyclery) 11.23 14 Sam Jesney (Bowden/Pimm Bike Ride Ryders Sunglasses) 11.57 15 Jacqueline Hickey 14.12 16 Rhonda Pearce (Riders Choice) 14.34 17 Erica Gurner (Spoke(N)) 15.08 18 Donna Hamlin (Mongoose Bicycles, SRAM Bicycle Components) 15.30 19 Vinca Low (Spoke(N)) 16.57 20 Jaci Low (Sorc) 17.52 21 Athena Wilson (St Kilda Cycles; Cannondale) 18.07 22 Naomi Williams (Felt, Hutchinson) 19.45 23 Kim Mccormack 21.28 24 Claire Garcia-Webb 22.07 25 Kelly Bartlett 28.20 26 Rebecca Armstrong (Riders Choice) 28.49 27 Nicole James 28.52 28 Claire Graydon 35.15 29 Joanne Hall (Giant) 38.34 30 Rebecca Mcconnell 1 lap behind DNF Rosemary Barnes (Mal Adjusted) DNF Imogen Smith (Iron Horse Bikes, Race Elements, Gap Cycles) Under 19 Women 1 Kelly Hughes (Crown Project Services) 1.48.49 2 Gracie Elvin (CORC) 1 lap behind * U23 Women
