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Australian MTB Series - CN
Thredbo, NSW, Australia, December 8-9, 2007
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Race 2 - December 9: Short Course cross country
Fry firms up another series lead
By Sharon Payne
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The Australian National Mountain Bike Series short course cross country event saw battle lines drawn between current series leader Rowena Fry and National silver medallist Tory Thomas in round three in Thredbo.
In the criterium-style mountain bike event, the decisive move came in the final three laps with Fry and Thomas breaking away from the larger break group of five. Chasing for third and fourth position were Katherine O'Shea and Julie Blake.
With one lap to go a move by Thomas was overshadowed by a strong charge by Fry who would finish 30 metres ahead to win her third of four in the series and maintain the overall series lead. Third was Blake with O'Shea in fourth. Fry capped off her winning streak after taking first place in yesterday's Olympic Cross Country and now leads both national series.
The elite men's short course current series leader Dylan Cooper led in the early laps but after numerous attacks by Dan McConnell and a final move by Paul Van Der Ploeg gave him the win. Cooper finished in second place and McConnell in third.
Under 23 rider, Van Der Ploeg was ecstatic with his win in his first year of elite men. "I was hurting from the start even from the first lap," said Van Der Ploeg. "I just saw a gap open and though I would just see what comes of it."
With windy condition likely to change things in the final stages, Van Der Ploeg was concerned about the chasing Cooper. "Every time I was looking at Cooper to see if he was at the same place behind me," he added.
Riders will prepare next for the Australian National Mountain Bike Championships at Mt Stromlo Forest Park in Canberra on January 24-26, 2008. The final race of the national series in cross country and downhill will be in Mt Beauty in early February.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Evan Jeffery /www.evanjeffery.com.au
- Rowena Fry leads the charge in the women's short course at Thredbo.
- Dan McConnell carried the bandage from Saturday's race.
- Dylan Cooper hung onto the series lead in the short course.
- Paul Van Der Ploeg sucked in great quantities of air on his way to a win.
- The Raw NRG boys were having too much fun in their race.
- Rowena Fry with Tory Thomas hot on her heels
- Tory Thomas congratulates Julie Blake on her third place.
- The men's short course start was fast and furious.
- Spectators cheered on the riders with Dylan Cooper on the front.
- Paul Van Der Ploeg smashed the field as he rode away.
- Paul Van Der Ploeg headed out on the bell lap
- Paul Van Der Ploeg celebrated his win in fine style.
Results
Elite men
1 Paul Van der Ploeg
2 Dylan Cooper
3 Daniel McConnell
4 Nathan Haas
5 Neil van der Ploeg
One lap behind
6 Joshua Keep
Five laps behind
7 Cal Britten
8 Scott Liston
Eight laps behind
9 Peter Braunsteins
Twelve laps behind
10 Ben Henderson
11 David Whitney
12 Luke Graydon
Thirteen laps behind
13 Mark Van Der Ploeg
Nineteen laps behind
14 Mark Fenner
DNF Jarrod Moroni
DNF Mark Flood
DNF Robbie Hucker
DNF Shaun Lewis
DNS Adrian Jackson
Elite women
1 Rowena Fry
2 Tory Thomas
3 Julie Blake
4 Katherine O’Shea
One lap behind
5 Niki Fisher
6 Philippa Rostan
Four laps behind
7 Rebecca Armstrong
Seven laps behind
8 Maria Papadopoulos
Nine laps behind
9 Therese Rhodes
10 Kylie Webb
11 Bianca Mauch
Ten laps behind
12 Rebecca Henderson
DNS Jo Wall
Open men
1 Charlton Durie
2 Michael Baker
3 Mark Tupalski
4 James Downing
Three laps behind
5 Tim Retchford
Eight laps behind
6 James Mowatt
7 Brendan Johnston
Eleven laps behind
8 Daniel deWitte
Thirteen laps behind
9 John Henderson
DNS David Ollie
First timer men
1 Shaun O'Connor
2 Raffi Moss
3 Brendan Jones
4 Tom Phillips
5 Mitch Forbes
Two laps behind
DNS Tim Beaver
DNS Michael Dargan
DNS John Golik
