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Australian MTB Series #3 - NE
You Yang MTB Park, Geelong, Victoria, Australia, December 13-14, 2008
Race 1 - December 13: Cross country
National Champ Jongewaard outclasses Olympians
By Sharon Payne
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National Cross Country rider Chris Jongewaard from Adelaide won the National Mountain Bike Series race held in Geelong today. Despite unexpected rain, Jongewaard led from the first of five laps winning in an overall time of two hours nine minutes and 17 seconds. A top class field was assembled for the third series akin to a national championship. The field included three Olympians, Beijing's Dan McConnell and Athens Olympians Sid Taberlay and Josh Flemming.
Jongewaard was unchallenged throughout the race and surprised himself after recently returning from a five-week lay off. "I just went out and wanted to have a good workout. I did fade in last three laps," said Jongewaard. "My front brakes went so I just took it easier on the downhills. A couple of spots you had to load up the brakes a bit. There were three or four sections I had to slow down a bit."
Jongewaard said the granite tracks at the You Yang's Regional Park held up surprisingly well despite the deluge. "It was horrendous conditions but it's probably the track I would rather ride in the wet," Jongewaard said. "The conditions didn't affect the race results overall."
Jongewaard was positive about his form and his future. "I've got a lot of plans this season. I've got a great contract here in Australia and big plans for overseas," he added.
Second was Aiden Lefmann (Brisbane) and third was Under 23 rider Nathan Haas (Canberra). Jongewaard now takes over the series lead after winning the first round in Adelaide. Haas takes the series lead in the Under 23 division.
O'Shea surprised by rain
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Melbourne's Katherine O'Shea from Port Melbourne won the elite women's race proving her growing ability. The 29-year-old only started cycling after taking part in a talent identification program. Now O'Shea is one of five women riders in the "Dirt Roads to London" program aimed a developing depth in Australia's mountain bike riders. Prior to this O'Shea was a state softball representative.
O'Shea was surprised by the constant rain. "I have ridden out here so many times. It's really close to home and I think I've ridden here twice when it's been wet. It's the driest place usually," she said. "It was hard going through this section but the rest of the course is a whole lot of fun."
O'Shea went out strong in the first of four laps. "I went out hard again, following my plan from Queensland." explained O'Shea. "I actually didn't think people would let me go. I got a decent lead and just tried to maintain it after that. It was hard out here but hard for everyone."
O'Shea's delight shone through the mud covering her from head to toe. "It's quite cold now. A shower would be great!" she admitted.
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Second was Brisbane's Jodie Willett after bunting got tangled up on bike following strong winds. Third was Jo Wall. Wall and O'Shea are both members of the "Dirt Road to London" program as well as hailing from Bendigo and members of the newly formed TORQ team.
O'Shea's time was 1.59.48, a full one minute ahead of Willett. However Willett retains the series lead by a narrow margin of two points after winning the first round and placing second in the next two rounds.
There are five national series events with the remaining two being held in Mt Buller at the end of January and Hobart at the end of February. The national championships over Australia Day weekend will be held on the 2009 World Championships course in Canberra.
On Sunday the cross country riders return for the short course criterium while downhillers try their skills on the picturesque granite boulder course. Weather forecasters predict continuing rain.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Evan Jeffery / www.evanjeffery.com.au
- Soggy conditions prevailed on Saturday at the You Yang's.
- Series leader, Jodie Willett ,putting in a strong performance in the tough conditions.
- Katherine O'Shea riding on the granite boulders.
- Tory Thomas walking the nasty climb on the back section of the course.
- Perth's Jo Bennett showed her ability beyond endurance events.
- Katherine O'Shea celebrates another win.
- Even Chris Jongewaard found conditions difficult on his way to a win.
- Sid Taberlay and Ben Henderson dicing for minor placings.
- Third placed and top Under 23, Nathan Haas, walking one of the difficult sections.
- Aiden Lefmann after finishing the race wearing much of the track.
- The event centre suffered greatly from the heavy rain.
- Jo Bennett, in the early stages of the race with Jodie Willett on her heels .
- Katherine O'Shea all on her own at the front.
- Jodie Willett pushed hard in the tough conditions.
- Bendigo's Jo Wall rode strongly into third place.
- Katherine O'Shea surprised by another win in the National Series.
- Jodie Willett felt smashed at the end of the race.
- National Champion, Jongewaard, cut a lonely figure at the front.
- Series leader plate holder, Ben Henderson, put in a hard charge early but faded a little toward the end.
Results
Elite men 1 Chris Jongewaard (Avanti,JT Cycles,Shimano) 2.09.17 2 Aiden Lefmann (Cannondale, SRAM, RLC, MAX) 3.02 3 Nathan Haas* (Orbea Australia, ACTAS, Catlike) 3.43 4 Ben Henderson (Mongoose Bikes, SRAM, Maxx) 4.44 5 Adrian Jackson (Merida, Flight Centre, Schwalbe) 5.10 6 Murray Spink (Giant Bicycles) 5.41 7 Lachlan Norris* (Cycling Australia - TIS) 6.09 8 Brent Miller 7.29 9 Joshua Fleming (felt, high 5, sram) 7.32 10 Daniel McConnell 10.21 11 Luke Fetch* (Torq Nutrition) 10.21 12 Sam Bach 10.37 13 Joshua Carlson (Spearman cycles, GIANT) 11.18 14 Paul VanDerPloeg (Felt) 12.13 15 Matthew Potter (Yeti Gu) 12.34 16 Scott Liston* (FELT, Pinnacle Cycles) 12.38 17 Paul McEntee 13.09 18 Travis Frisby* (SASI, Gawler Cycles) 13.10 19 Brett Anderson* (Trak Cycles, Squirt Lube) 14.06 20 Mark Fenner (Total Rush,HIGH5,Skins,Hid) 14.36 21 Ben Grieve-Johnson 15.10 22 Andrew Arthur* 16.25 23 James Williamson 16.32 24 James Maebus (Torq Nutrition, Mum) 16.34 25 Glenn Stewart* (cannondale, sram, maxxis) 18.40 26 Joel Ryan 19.56 27 Ben Hogarth (Giant, Mitcham Cycle Centre) 21.51 28 Russell Collett (Yeti Cycles, GU, TWE, Kenda) 23.03 29 Cal Britten* (Torq Nutrition) 24.39 30 Daniel Mackay (Giant) 25.08 31 Steven Draper 31.29 32 Mark Flood* 36.16 Behind one lap 33 Dave Merritt 34 Cam Winn (Orbea Bicycles, Northwave) 35 William Bowron* Behind two laps 36 David Whitney* 37 Nick Both (Merida/Flightcentre) 38 Steele VonHoff* (Torq Nutrition) Behind three laps 39 James Walker (Scott Bikes, Camelbak, Rapido) 40 Neil VanDerPloeg* (Felt Bicycles) 41 Angus Harding* (Team Orbea Australia) 42 Paul Traynor (Merida Flight Centre) Behind four laps 43 Gary Wearmouth (Hendry Cycles) 44 James Kennedy (Merida Flight Centre) DNF Matt Ligtermoet DNF Paul Weymouth* (Torq Nutrition) DNF Robbie Hucker* (Torq Nutrition) DNF Sid Taberlay DNF Peter Braunsteins DNS Andrew Arthur* (Clarence Street Cyclery) DNS Matthew Fleming (Clarence St Cyclery, TREK) DNS Joel Read (Total Rush, Sram, Rock Shox) Elite Women 1 Katherine O'Shea (Torq Nutrition) 1.59.49 2 Jodie Willett (Scody, eDiscovery Tools) 1.54 3 Joanne Wall (Torq Nutrition) 2.27 4 Tory Thomas (Torq Nutrition) 5.14 5 Jenni King 5.42 6 Jo Bennett (Merida Flight Centre MTB Team) 7.50 7 Niki Fisher (scott, adidas, ascend, giro) 11.04 8 Kelly Bartlett 12.23 9 Trudy Nicholas 15.15 10 Rebecca Henderson* (Mongoose, SRAM, Maxxis) 18.27 11 Jessica Douglas (Torquay Cycling Factory) 18.59 12 Bianca Mauch (TLC Cycles, SRAM, Jet Black) 20.19 13 Therese Rhodes* (Ultimate Ride Bike Shop) 20.24 14 Philippa Rostan 21.17 15 Kylie Webb (Lonsdale Street Cyclery) 23.06 16 Sarah Holmes* 24.09 17 Sarah Riley 27.34 Behind two laps 18 Anna Beck (RLC, Scud Carbon, Aiden) 19 Gracie Elvin* (Orbea) DNF Bronwyn Ryan DNF Jacqui Hickey DNF Emma Colson (Topbike Tours) DNS Lee Schultz (Hampton Bicycles) DNS Erica Gurner DNS Melinda Jackson* Under 19 men 1 Trenton Day (Breakaway Cycles, Scott Bikes) 1.24.41 2 James Peacock (merida, flight centre, nightrider,) 0.51 3 Brendan Johnston (Mongoose Bikes,SRAM,Maxxis) 3.29 4 Michael Baker (ONYA Bike Belconnen, CORC) 5.02 5 Mitchell Codner (GU Energy Gel) 5.02 6 Phillip Bellingham (KONA) 7.44 7 Sam Ferguson 9.17 8 Ryan Macanally (River City Cycles) 10.11 9 Josh Prete (Discovery Cycles) 10.31 10 Andrew Costello 11.36 11 Brenton Jones (Bicycle Superstore, GT Bicycle) 11.36 12 Sean Moloney 11.37 13 Kyle Ward 13.43 14 Glen Sinnott (Sportsmans Warehouse, Skins) 14.48 15 Stephen Pitt (Blackman Cycles) 29.53 16 Thomas Power 33.32 DNS Chris Mall DNS Matthew Keays (Hampton bicycles, Castlemaine) Under 19 women 1 Shelly Flood (Ay up) 1.10.17 2 Gillian Burgess 3.19 Expert Men 1 Craig Borham 1.58.11 2 John Groves 2.54 3 Peter Kutschera (Peter Kutschera) 4.55 4 Darren Smith 5.01 5 Ashley Hayat (The Fitzroy Revolution) 6.04 6 Simon Wright (Salsa Cycles) 7.10 7 Merlin Spranze 7.39 8 David Thomas 8.08 9 Christopher Soanes (Fuji) 9.05 10 SeanTheMan Hurley (Orbea Bicycles, Northwave) 10.21 11 Damian French (Treadlies Bike Shop) 14.44 12 Peter Malcolm 15.29 13 Edward Hood 18.23 14 Neil Robinson (Baum) 23.47 15 Chris Quain 29.05 Behind two laps 16 Jeremy Ross (TREK, Ride Shop) DNF Mick Pietkiewicz DNF John Griffiths DNF Jason Chalker (bikeshed) DNF Jim Hsu (Baum Cycles) DNF Neil Bennett (Tekin Suspension, Giant Bicycle) DNS Stu Shaw DNS Rowan Smith DNS Darren Groves (Porsche Centre Gold Coast) DNS Grant Lebbink DNS Scott Chancellor (Giant, BicyclesInc) DNS Darren Smith (TLC Cycles ACT) DNS Andrew Choma (TrailMix.com.au, Cannondale) DNS Lewis Rattray U17 men 1 Ryan Standish 1.20.09 2 Alexander Meyland 5.10 3 Daniel McDonald 7.19 4 Jack Haig 8.47 5 Josh Sek (Anaconda Bayswater) 18.28 6 Alistair Crameri 27.21 Behind one lap 7 Adam Roberts 8 Ben Clarkash 9 Laurent Groom 10 Jarryd Jones 11 James Hanus (Lifecycle Bicycles, Avanti Plus) 12 Shaun Wright 13 Tim Beaver Behind two laps 14 Russell Nankervis 15 Oliver Doreian DNF Ryan Lloyd (Bike Hub Geelong) DNS Jack Watson Under 15 men 1 Ben Bradley 1.03.00 2 Luke Ellison (XCR Junior Development Program) 3.17 3 Tasman Nankervis 4.29 4 Sam Davis (dad) 20.34 1 Tim Chadd 1.04.13 2 Evan Jones 2.09 3 Scott Kramer 8.31 4 Lucas Pitt 9.09 5 Grant Bluch 14.41 6 SimonTheFlash Carr (Bendigo MTB Club) 16.28 7 Tim Rowe (BikeNow) 33.56 DNF Gavin Dunk DNS Joel Healy (g+g carpentry) DNS Warren Sanders DNS Jon Weijers (Hendry Cycles) DNS Shane Curran (Hendry Cycles) DNS Nick Hilliard (Anaconda) Super masters women 1 Peggy Douglass 40.56 Masters women 1 Jane Ollerenshaw (Norco) 38.29 Veteran women DNS Rebecca Hill Sport women 1 Jacqui Lovett 1.16.59 2 Kate Welford 0.01 3 Shelley McColl (MBC - Scott Bikes) 10.10 Super masters men 1 David Olle (Topbike Tours, Sooty Park TV) 1.02.42 2 Peter Pink 1.06 3 Steve Flood 3.00 4 Kahn Franke (Walkers Wheels) 10.31 5 Gregor Blairsmith 14.09 6 Mal Doreian 14.49 7 Martin Griffith (Switchmode Power Supply) 23.19 DNF Geoff DeCampo Grand master men 1 Kerry Ryan 1.11.12 2 Ashley Grivell (Aldgate Bike Shop SA) 14.58 Masters men 1 Justin Wornes (The Fitzroy Revolution) 1.24.36 2 Brian John (Brunswick Street Cycles) 0.48 3 Andrew Hall (Great Divide Coffee) 1.29 4 Tim McColl (MBC - Scott Bikes) 4.18 5 Evan James (Bicycle Express Adelaide) 4.58 6 Lee Floyd 5.56 7 Tim McGrath (Spoken) 6.35 8 Paul Darvodelsky (Scott bikes) 7.36 9 Steve Munyard 10.42 10 Matthew McGill 15.18 11 Liam McCrory 16.31 12 Antoni Timonowicz 25.02 13 Tony French 25.44 14 John Wright 40.30 Behind one lap 15 John Henderson (OnyaBike Belconnen) 16 Mark Codner (Myself) DNF John Groom DNF David Sprague DNF Craig Cummings DNS Craig Peacock (merida, flight centre, nightrider) DNS Frank Gasperic Veteran men 1 Andrew Wilcher (Race Elements / For The Riders) 1.25.57 2 James Downing (Lonsdale Cyclery) 5.09 3 Sam Maffett 6.07 4 Peter Kreilis 7.50 Behind two laps 5 Dion Shaw DNF Shane Obrien DNF Tim Ferres (anaconda, jamis, maxis tires) DNF Tommy Pietkiewicz (O2 Networks) DNF Clinton Lemaitre DNS Ivan Kallaur DNS Shane Bedford (Cycling Science, Fit 2 Excel, Pe) DNS Simon Ellis DNS Brett Henderson DNS Brett Willoughby DNS Phillip Orr DNS Lucas Jinnette DNS Julien Redmond (Wheeler, Rotor)
