Mountains to the Beach - SR

Australia, March 2-6, 2009

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Race 1 - March 2: Day 1, 50km

All downhill from here

"This is the first 8km; there's another 370 to go, so take it easy." With these words, the inaugural Mountains To Beach mountain bike race commenced.

The first stage, the Hayes Manitou Mountain Run was just that – a run down the slopes of Mt Kosciuszko and for some riders it took less than 20 minutes.

Local knowledge may have played a part in Cooma-based Andrew Blair's stage one win today, but it may also have been the challenging course set by course designer Wayne Byard.

Blair's place at the top is going to be hotly contested, with Queenslander Andrew Fellows and Port Macquarie's Dennis Van Mill within 10 seconds. There are only two minutes separating the top 10 male riders.

The women's overall isn't so close. Canberran Rosemary Barnes came in two minutes ahead of Sydneysider Gaye Camm . One of the race favourites, Queenslander Naomi Hansen is currently in third place.

After the gruelling start, which riders described as challenging yet fun, the riders had a leisurely cruise (stage two) to the Novotel Lake Crackenback Resort for lunch.

In the afternoon, during stage three, riders tackled purpose built singletrack at Novotel Lake Crackenback Resort designed with this race in mind. Most riders described the track as 'awesome'.

The remaining 325km of the race will cover every possible terrain, from winding singletrack, heart-stopping mountain descents and heartbreaking mountain climbs to rainforest lined gullies, atop coastal cliffs and along sandy beaches.

Results

Stage 1: Thredbo

Solo men 18-39

1 Andrew Blair                          18.31
2 Andrew Fellows                         0.06
3 Dennis Van Mill                        0.07

Solo women 18-39

1 Rosemary Barnes                       23.09
2 Naomi Hansen                           3.22
3 Kath Bicknell                          3.34

Solo men 40-49

1 John Clews                            20.37
2 Gwyn Tavener-Smith                     0.46
3 Tim Jamieson                           1.37

Solo women 40-49

1 Gaye Camm                             25.42
2 Heidi Healy                            9.53
3 Bronwyn Markham                       10.38

Solo men 50+

1 Roger Cull                            23.20
2 Peter Hansen                           0.37
3 DJ Brooks                              1.19

Stage 3: Novotel Lake Crackenback Resort

Solo men 18-39

1 Dennis Van Mill                       51.59
2 Andrew Blair                           0.01
3 Jason English                              

Solo women 18-39

1 Rosemary Barnes                     1.04.49
2 Naomi Hansen                           0.07
3 Heather Evans                          3.55

Solo men 40-49

1 John Clews                            58.37
2 Tim Jamieson                           0.04
3 Rodney Hart                            1.56

Solo women 40-49

1 Gaye Cam                            1.17.02
2 Bronwyn Markham                       12.35
3 Jenny Caldwell                        14.27

Solo men 50+

1 Roger Cull                          1.00.32
2 William Dove                           3.07
3 Peter Hansen                           3.58

General classification after day 1

Men

1 Dennis Van Mill                       51.59
2 Andrew Blair                           0.01
3 Jason English                              
4 Brett Anderson                         2.35
5 Warren Burgess                         2.36

Women

1 Rosemary Barnes                     1.04.49
2 Naomi Hansen                           0.07
3 Heather Evans                              
4 Marquita Gelderman                         
5 Kim McFadden                               

Solo men 18-39

1 Andrew Blair                        1.10.31
2 Dennis Van Mill                        0.06
3 Andrew Fellows                         2.56

Solo women 18-39

1 Rosemary Barnes                     1.27.58
2 Naomi Hansen                           3.29
3 Heather Evans                          8.59

Solo Men 40-49

1 John Clews                          1.19.14
2 Tim Jamieson                           1.41
3 Rodney Hart                            3.33

Solo women 40-49

1 Gaye Camm                           1.42.44
2 Bronwyn Markham                       23.13
3 Jenny Caldwell                        32.49

Solo men 50+

1 Roger Cull                          1.23.52
2 Peter Hansen                           4.35
3 William Dove                           4.55