Brindabella Challenge - NE

ACT, Australia, December 2-4, 2005

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Images by Greg McNevin/Cyclingnews.com

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Images by John Stevenson/Cyclingnews.com

Rolling home - Jean Douglass and Ron Simpson roll in with Stephen Cusack and Brendan Mulhall
Ian Stewart and Zoe King finishing fifth in mixed pairs.
Trent Birkett and Cameron Godwin finish - one of the last pairs to roll in, they nevertheless racked up enough points to land 12th overall and fifth in the men's category
Post-event refuelling courtesy of the local Scout group.
Bikes of all types - there were even a couple of recumbents.
Wake me up for prizegiving.
Gimme caffeine!
This map was new yesterday. Polaris regulars laminate their event maps so they have a chance of surviving being read and refoilded dozen's of times.
Team TRuDGe - endurance racing regulars
Sydneysider Celia Cramer was very proud of her first serious stack, susteained on a day that had seen her ride further than she'd ever done in one day (72km versus a previous 25km) and descend faster, coming off Black Mountain at 69km/h.
SBS journalist Jim Trail was half of the second-placed team in mixed pairs and chirpy as ever after only just failing to defend his team's title in the category. Trail's Canberra-resident local knowledge was a big advantage in previous years.
T-shirts abound

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Images by Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews

Three-time world time trial champion Michael Rogers still remembers when he first started racing, and acknowledged the importance of events like the Brindabella Challenge.
The start of the graded handicap, beginning with F grade, who started 23 minutes in front of the scratch group.
E grade are called to the line.
D grade looking a little nervy.
C grade always a big bunch, with one of their riders winning the major prize at the end of the race..
B grade ready to rumble.
A grade, a small field with just nine starters.
And A grade are on their way.
Michael Rogers and Stephen Hodge lead out the kids' race, with Hodgey taking on some fluffy company.
Go, my son!
Bradley Morton (Canberra CC) wins the handicap by a country mile. B grade for you, next time!
Chris Loynes (Canberra CC) takes second place.
Simon Hickey (Peloton Sports) scores third.
Troy Glennan (MG XPower p/b BigPond) attacked with 7km to go to win the scratch race.
Troy Glennan (MG XPower p/b BigPond) raises his arms in triumph.
Peter McDonald (FRF Couriers-Caravello) takes second place.
And Joe McDonnell (FRF Couriers-Caravello) comes in for third.
The sprint was still on with money down to 10th place.
A happy camper - Troy Glennan (MG XPower p/b BigPond).

Images by Gerard Knapp/Cyclingnews

Cyclingnews' Jeff Jones does his best "Shoot me, I'm famous"
Mick Rogers, Stephen Hodge and a horse. As a Canberra local, Rogers was happy to see so many cyclists in town, while Hodgie had worked tirelessly behind the scenes for the event. The horse contributed vital comic relief.
Oenone Wood (left) with her two younger sisters.
Ms Wood the Youngest follows in Big Sis' wheeltracks
Oenone Wood, Mick Rogers and Stephen Hodge go for a spin on a triplet
Actual prizemoney! Our own Jeff Jones celebrates his third place in the handicap by eating his cheque. Er, Jeff, you're supposed to spend it…

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Images by Liam Tung/Cyclingnews.com

Why yes I do realise I am completely covered in mud, thankyou.
Impromptu bike wash
Did we mention it was muddy?
Next time he'll have mudguards and a bandana!
A vast crowd didn't turn out for the finish, but the 260 riders who were having fun in the mud and wet didn't seem to care much.
Bike wash - the finish area had a handy stream - a raging torrent thanks to the previous night's rain - where riders got the mud off after the race.
MTB race newbie Greg McNevin looked pretty chipper after finishing his first ever race. Greg works for Cyclingnews' sister publication Image and Data Manager and seems keen to do it again!
Brent Miller (l) and Dylan Cooper chat with commentator Ben Battisson at the prizegiving. Winner Peter Hatton had to leave early to ride that afternoon's road races.
Rosemary Barnes made a storming comeback to MTB racing after an 11-year break to win the women's category.

Images by Gerard Knapp/Cyclingnews.com

The women's top three - Niki Fisher (2nd), Belinda Allison (3rd) and Rosemary Barnes (1st)

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Images by Gerard Knapp/Cyclingnews