Kiwis conquer National Cross-Country races

Images: Mike Blewitt, Colin Levitch

Australia's National Cross Cross-Country (XCO) Series goes marching on in 2018, and round 3 and 4 were the second double-header of the series, landing at Nerang on Queensland's Gold Coast.

Round 3 had special interest as not only was it a test event for the 2018 Commonwealth Games course, but it was also the final selection race for the Commonwealth Games team as laid out in selection criteria. This also meant there was a strong influx of riders from New Zealand, keen to get eyes on the Commonwealth Games course, and no doubt put in final performances for their own selectors.

Holly Harris with a face of determination.

The course in Nerang is a mixed bag, using trails built specifically for the Commonwealth Games. Unlike other world-level courses in Australia (such as in Smithfield and at Mt Stromlo) the technical difficulties tend to be on the climbs, not the descents. As such, there are no true A and B lines. Instead, it's more of a case of ride or walk – and that's something many racers were making decisions on in practice, understanding that in the heat of the moment, nailing the perfect line would be difficult.

Few riders were cleaning this climb in the race, save for some Juniors and elite racers.

The heat is on

And there was plenty of heat in the moment. Queensland is the Sunshine State, and there is a reason most people ride early, 5am starts aren't unusual. While it might be hotter in other states, it's the humidity as well that really conspires against you. Queensland has been in a heatwave, and with temperatures looking to exceed 35 degrees on the weekend, the heat would always be a factor.

In Saturday's race, it was clear that the toll from the course and the heat was taking a toll as the Junior categories were on course. The tech/feed zone was awash with young riders coming in with flat tyres from rock gardens, and then with riders stopping, unable to cool down. One rider even fainted on their bike and crashed. These races started at 8:30am.

Having spare wheels was an advantage – although some Juniors ran out!

At 10:30am, all the women's races started, with Elite women leading them out. With a field that included the likes of Series leader and Oceania Champion Samara Sheppard, National Champion Bec McConnell, Eliminator World Champ Katrin Stirnemann, New Zealand's Kate Fluker, and various state XCO Champions – it was a small but strong field of 12.

There were bags of ice on faces, stockings of ice down backs, and umbrellas aplenty in the start chute.

With a strong start by Sheppard, McConnell (nee Henderson), Stirnemann and Fluker, the rest of the field were in hot pursuit, with Harris and Smythe right on the heels of the leading quartet. But soon, the course and the heat played a roll. Riders were hot, flustered, and gaps were increasing.

Swiss rider Stirnemann had an unfortunate series of flat tyres and a mechanical, eventually withdrawing. McConnell faded then fought back to second, but Sheppard was on a flyer and built an astonishing lead, mastering the course and the conditions.

Full results for the women's race are online.

All action for Elite men

In the men's race, the start chute was flooded with firepower. And up the first climb, only 3 riders made it clear up the technical step ups until a rider put a foot down and the rest of the field were caught in a bottleneck of walking.

Anton Cooper showing how steep this climb is, even if the camera doesn't.

Anton Cooper lead the charge with Dan McConnell and Ben Oliver close behind. Cam Ivory was taken out of the equation with a flat tyre, and Dan McConnell lead the charge for the Australians. Tas Nankervis rode above his thumb injury, and Sebastian Jayne had a fantastic result, finishing in 5th.

Reece Tucknott charging.

The men raced 6 laps, which was a reduction and the same that the Elite women raced, due to the conditions – that said, a tiny bit of cloud cover had created some reprieve. With an attrition rate over 30%, it was a tough day out.

Full results for Elite men are online.

Any given Sunday

A rider communique went out from MTBA on Saturday evening, as with higher predicted temperatures races would be reduced in laps on the different, and longer, course for Sunday. While this course would take in some elements of the previous day, it would also use a longer climb and descent. In all, most likely a more enjoyable course for most competitors.

Juniors were on course first.

There was a breath of air at the race venue, and a touch of cloud cover. Would the temperature rise as much? The Junior races still saw riders out with heat exhaustion, and it looked like the Elite fields were a little thinned with some riders opting to skip the race as their eyes were on thre Commonwealth Games selection race – or they were still in quite a state from the conditions on Saturday.

 

Sheppard takes another win

The Elite women's race played out as expected, as Samara Sheppard again built a handy lead on her competition.

Kate Fluker gave chase and Holly Harris was also in hot pursuit, with Eliza Smythe and Imogen Smith close behind, and Sarah Riley chasing. Harris suffered a flat a long way from the tech/feed zone and ended up missing the podium.

Sheppard leads into one of the rocky climbs.

While the field was reduced with McConnell and Stirnemann not starting, Round 4 was hard fought and showed who could back up from Saturday, and who was still hurting. It looked like Kate Fluker benefitted from getting back into racing, and Imogen Smith also improved on her race from Saturday.

 
Full results are online.

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more

Backing up from one day of cross-country racing to the next is no mean feat, but that's how the entire 2018 National XCO Series has been devised, to make travel and accommodation costs a little more managable for riders. This brings it's own challenges, as cross-country racing is full gas, and being able to do it two days in a row is very difficult, especially considering the conditions on this race weekend.

But not every rider had the race they wanted on Saturday, which means there is an opportunity to make amends – and that's exactly what riders like Cam Ivory did, who flatted out of Saturday's race.

"Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide"

 

Cam Ivory in his new Trek-Shimano Australia team strip.

Anton Cooper was untouchable though, and Cam Ivory lead the Aussie charge chasing the speedy New Zealander. Russ Nankervis, Kian Lerch-Mackinnon and Reece Tucknott followed close behind.

 
Ben Oliver was in play again, riding inside the top 5 and making short work of the Sunday course. Oliver would finish 4th, netting some UCI points in the Class 3 event.

Cooper finished 1:31 clear of Ivory, with Reece Tucknott finishing 3rd, with Oliver in 4th and Alex Lack rounding out the podium in 5th. Full results are online. 

What has the Commonwealth Games test event taught us?

The Kiwis are fast. But it is January and our two top riders, Rebecca and Dan McConnell, are still training and not really tapering for races.

The course is rocky and rough – and for many people not a whole lot of fun. But racing isn't always fun.

Queensland doesn't really work for racing in January. It was bloody hot and while the need to have a test event is clear – let's hope the National Series doesn't visit Queensland again in January.

Juniors will take over the world. By far the biggest fields are in the Junior categories, especially for U17 men. 

The next rounds of the MTBA National XCO Series are in Pemberton at the end of the month