Bec Henderson and Dan McConnell take Toowoomba
The final round of the MTBA Subaru National Mountain Bike Series took place below the range in Toowoomba today.
The final round of the MTBA Subaru National Mountain Bike Series took place below the range in Toowoomba today. With some lower temperatures greeting the junior riders in the morning, the sun came out when Elite women took to the start at 10am.
With a fast start up the gravel access road, and more climbing to follow, the hole shot was worth fighting for. Samara Shepard got into the singletrack first but Bec Henderson was right on her wheel. Winner of the first two rounds, Jenni King was right behind. King also leads the series
Not even the heat could stop Rebecca Henderson (ACT) from taking out the 2015-16 Subaru National MTB Series after another dominant victory in the Elite Women’s XCO race at Jubilee Park, Toowoomba on Saturday.
With the series title in the balance, Henderson needed a win and King to finish lower than fourth if she was to claim back-to-back National Series crowns.
“Samara set a cracking pace at the start and I wasn’t that willing to go that fast so she probably got a 10 second gap on the first climb,” said “Descending is one of my strengths specially in these conditions so I was able to close the gap.”
Soon enough Henderson was away alone, with a convincing gap of 30 seconds part way into the second lap. She built that every lap from there to the finish.
King and Shepard traded places for a few laps, until King came unstuck with a mechanical.
“I attacked on the second last lap and had a good gap on her before the chain broke and was feeling really good at that stage. And was ready to give it a good go on the last lap.”
But the race behind was still close. While Karen Hill started well with King, she dropped back, having an off day. At the same time, Jodie Willett, Anna Beck and Imogen Smith were all moving through the field.
Beck was on the hunt, and caught Willett, then moved to secure her position. In the pits, Dan McConnell wagered she would make it to 2nd place, but Beck crossed the line in 3rd ecstatic with her result. Willet was 4th, and Smith came home in 5th with two strong final laps.
For Henderson, the win will see her head into the 2016 Australian MTB Championships in Bright confident of keeping the green and yellow stripes.
“I’ve been lucky to have Aussie champs stripes in U23 and U19 actually every race I’ve done these ones are extra special when racing in the elite
McConnell shows his class. Again.
Daniel McConnell finished the 2015-16 National MTB Series undefeated with a hard fought win in the final round at Jubilee Park, Toowoomba on Saturday. With the series already wrapped up with four straight victories, McConnell wasn’t going to let a win slip away.
McConnell won the 6 lap race in 1:32:29secs, nearly two minutes in front of second placed Cameron Ivory who was right with McConnell for the first 3 laps.
“It was a pretty hard race and I’m sure have a few things to work on.”
With Ivory nearly glued to his wheel for the first half of the race, McConnell admitted he wasn’t feeling amazing.
“I thought I either got to get away at my own pace or I’m in a bit of trouble so I sort of had a quick lap and was able to get a gap and with the heat he started to struggle a bit and hold a little bit of a gap.”
Ivory is in amazing shape in his second Elite season, and the strength and maturity of his racing is really showing this year. But, he admitted that once McConnell started to gain a gap on the second climb on the 4th lap, he was no longer able to keep shutting it down.
“Once he dropped the hammer I couldn’t’ follow.”
Behind, Brendan Johnston rode a consistently strong race in 3rd, and Blair moved through the field to almost get to him, but finished 4th, with Reece Tucknott passing Shaun Lewis (Real) for 5th.
McConnell’s attention now turns towards the 2016 Australian MTB Championships in Bright, Victoria in a fortnight, as he looks to retain his Aussie jersey.
“Olympic year is a really big one for everyone I think we’ll be lucky enough to qualify for two spots the second spot is up for grabs and making everyone work that little bit harder. I think it’s bringing the best out of everyone.”
Attention now turns to the Short Track tomorrow morning and Downhill after lunch.
