MTBA National RD5 Thredbo XCO

It’s been two years since Thredbo was last visited by the XCO National circuit and in that time a lot has changed at the historic venue. Gone are the rocky and treacherous walking track downhill sections replaced with groomed singletrack and a trip through the lower part of the valley to the main “Eagles Nest” chairlift, the new all mountain trail and returning via the Thredbo River.

The juniors were first on track Saturday but it was the Elite and U23’s women who really put the trail through it’s paces. From the gun there was a strong lead out by Peta Mullens, followed by relative new comer and New Zealand native Samara Sheppard with Australian Champion Bec Henderson in tow.

It was a three way battle from there on out, with Sheppard providing a new fervour to the regular Mullens and Henderson face off. As the heat of the day began to rise Henderson made her move and the race was done. Lap by lap the gap’s remained and the race finished Henderson first, Mullens second with Sheppard in third.

The Elite Men’s kicked off with a stacked field, all looking for the win and for some to catch the eye of Olympic selectors with impressive results. Brendan Johnson pushed the field with a high pace start that continued right throughout the first lap, a pace that could not be sustained and by the second lap, the field had begun to fracture. At the front Johnson swapped the lead with Cam Ivory and Scott Bowden and the three of them soon broke away. A break that would hold for the rest of the race. Behind begun some impressive rides in no mans land from Kyle Ward, Tasman Nankervis and Sebastian Jayne. Heartily pursued by a trio consisting of Andy Blair, Reece Tucknott and Gareth Cannon.

The status quo changed little throughout the remaining laps and the driving intensity on the front did not abate either. With a lap to go the leading group were destined for a sprint finish with neither Ivory, Bowden or Johnson able to break the other. With meters to go Bowden and Ivory were neck and neck, with wood chips flying it was Cam Ivory who managed to pip Bowden on the line. Brendan Johnson driving home in third. Ward and Nankervis rode solo and respectively into fourth and fifth. Blair Tucknott and Cannon splintered over the dying laps but it was Cannon who managed to catch Jayne and cement sixth. Jayne followed in seventh whilst the rest followed respectively.

Full results and info at : www.mtba.asn.au/event/national-series/