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Oceania Mountain Bike Championships & Australian Open - CC
Thredbo, NSW, Australia, March 23-25, 2007
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Race 3 - March 24: Elite Under 19 Cross Country
Van der Ploeg dominates in Oceania U19 mens XCO
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The Under 19 Olympic Cross Country riders headed out into heavy rain for their event. Mt Beauty's Paul van der Ploeg delivered yet another dominant display to claim the Oceania Championships Under 19 Men's title over five laps of a grueling Thredbo course.
In driving rain van der Ploeg led the field by almost two minutes after just one lap and, while his lap times gradually increased in comparison to Canberra's Nathan Hass's consistent laps, the reigning National Champion was never worried.
Hass was himself well clear of Peter Braunsteins, who spent the early laps in a battle for third with leading New Zealand rider Connor MacFarlane.
New Zealand's national champion, James Williamson, suffered in the wet conditions and was only able to finish seventh.
While the New Zealand team presented a polished squad in matching Silver Fern uniforms, it was unable to make any kind of dent on the outstanding performance of van der Ploeg, who remains unbeaten in the Under 19's division throughout the Australian season.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Evan Jeffery/www.evanjeffery.com.au
- The duck on the cross country course was disqualified for 'feeding outside of the feed zone'.
- Puddles were unavoidable in the extremely wet conditions.
- The rain barely stopped all day, calling a halt on the elite seeding runs.
- Home made mud guards were all the rage.
- Downhill runs were something to talk about.
- Paul Van Der Ploeg U19 men’s cross country winner.
- Kiwi rider Conor MacFarlane placed just off the podium in fourth.
- Nathan Rennie excited about the conditions.
- The Panozzo boys taking a shower together.
- Cara Smith and Claire Whiteman discussing track conditions with other riders.
- Canberra rider Nathan Haas riders in to claim second.
- Victorian rider Peter Braunsteins takes the final podium spot in third
Results
Under 19 Men 1 Paul Van Der Ploeg (Aus) Felt Bicycles, SRAM, Hutchinson 1.50.06 2 Nathan Haas (Aus) Orbea Australia, Actas 1.46 3 Peter Braunsteins (Aus) Richmond cyclery 2.26 4 Conor MacFarlane (NZl) Bike New Zealand 4.07 5 Benjamin Dyball (Aus) 5.43 6 Jordan Blake (NZl) Bike New Zealand 6.50 7 James Williamsonnz (NZl, Bike New Zealand 8.46 8 Daniel Hallam (Aus) Advance Traders, Merida, Nerang Mountain Bike Club 9.27 9 Scott Green (NZl) Bike New Zealand 9.34 10 Alex McGregor (NZl) Bike New Zealand 10.31 11 Luke Knox (Aus) Bendigo Bank Academy of Sport Villawood 12.56 12 Robbie Hucker (Aus) Cannondale maxxis mountain bike racing team, sram, sugoi, enervit, giro 13.38 13 Ashley Hough (NZl) Bike New Zealand 14.17 14 Jonathan Coates (Aus) 15.39 15 Jarrad Burrell (Aus) Kalamunda Cycles 18.12 16 George Bennett (NZl) Bike New Zealand 23.02 Under 19 Women 1 Samara Sheppard (NZl) Bike New Zealand 1.24.12 Two laps down 2 Kelly Hughes (Aus) 1.25.50 DNS Kate McMillan (Aus)
