All set to go for World Cup XCO

With just one night’s rest before a day of XCO racing, we wandered into the forest to see riders on the trails, and to ask a few riders about their thoughts on the course.

Yesterday we spoke to Julien Absalon, and took a look at his BMC Fourstroke. He won here in 2014 on a BMC hardtail, but this time he’s on a full-suspension bike, and one with a dropper post at that.

There was a real difference on course watching some people ride the fast lines compared to others. While some riders are on full-suspension, many are on hardtails. Which really isn’t a bad choice – but you do really notice how much looser the riders are riding, and there’s a fair bit of rim donking going on.

While Bec Henderson is on her Top Fuel, McConnell is on a Procaliber. Photo: David Rome

Jon Odams is racing his Giant Anthem, and making pretty short work of sections o

“I did a few laps and the uphill is longer than the course description would read – it feels like there is a lot of uphill! It’s going to be tough on the downhills as there’s not much room to get past people.”

Jon Odams launches of Rodeo Drop in practice.

“The climb is pretty much singletrack the whole way up. There’s a few tricky little overtaking spots on the way up.”

Karen Hill is targeting Commonwealth Games selection, and after a good National Series and Champs is here in Cairns – we saw her in practice and she was looking smooth dropping into Jacob’s Ladder.

Karen Hill storms down Jacob’s Ladder.

Recently crowned XCM Champion Peta Mullens was practicing the course, and although she’s had a heavy racing schedule of late with both the XCM Champs and then the Bendigo Golden Triangle Epic – she was riding the physical descents really well.

Mullens slides into the Croc Slide. Photo: David Rome

Form above, Jacob’s Ladder looks even more daunting. It’s a long way down.

Paul van der Ploeg has been out on course, running in his new Giant Anthem 29 with Shimano Di2 and Fox Factory suspension.

“It’s pretty wild and rough out there, rocky and technical. All the Euros are a little bit scared which makes me happy. But it’s also a very short lap, so it will be hard to keep up with them on the climbs.”

iPhone weather currently has a 30-40% chance of rain tomorrow, which could change racing.

“Jacob’s Ladder and Croc Slide will be very interesting if it’s wet,” says van der Ploeg. Which is an understatement.

Trek Racing Australia are here in force, and Michael Potter and Reece Tucknott were out training together, making their lines smoothly and at speed. Both are finding the trails much different, mostly faster, compared to when they were here on a development camp in 2014.

Tucknott leads Potter

Potter is set for a good ride in U23

How the World Cup influences the Olympics

There’s also another race going on here, the race for Olympic selection. We cover a lot of what’s involved in our current issue. But Kate Fluker is here to see if she can place top 17, which will mean New Zealand can get a women’s Olympic spot.

Fluker looked fast on course, and was training with her partner.

In men’s, Cam Ivory, Kyle Ward, Brendan Johnston and Scott Bowden will all be targeting a top result. Ivory absolutely loved the course, and openly said he wants MTBA to host a National Round at Smithfield.

Kyle Ward raced in U23 in 2014, and is racing in Elite now. We caught him after a lap on Friday, when the conditions were still a bit damp.

“After a bit of a shower the terrain changes, so we’ll see what happens on Sunday. The rain completely changes how some of those technical features feel, but you just have to keep it pinned. It’s a demanding course.”

Racing starts at 9am tomorrow, but you can watch the Elite races live on Redbull TV, or on SBS 2