Olympians and World Champs line up at Toowoomba

The best mountain bike riders from the Oceania region will do battle across four days of exciting racing in Toowoomba this week, presented by Mountain Bike Australia (MTBA). Two events will take place, the Oceania Championships from Thursday to Friday and then the final round of the Subaru National Mountain Bike Series from Saturday to Sunday.

The Oceania Championships are an annual UCI Continental Championship event, and are rotated between host countries in the region, commonly Australia and New Zealand. Cross Country action will see five-time Oceania Elite MTB Champion and third-ranked rider in the world Dan McConnell (ACT) leading the way in the men’s field.

McConnell will be keen to record a win against his two key New Zealand opponents Anton Cooper (NZ) and Sam Gaze (NZ), with both finishing in front of him to take the gold and silver medals respectively at the 2014 Commonwealth games.

In the women’s race Karen Hanlen (NZ) has three consecutive Oceania titles in the Cross Country and will be looking to extend her tally. Her key challenge will come from Bec Henderson, who has 4 Oceania titles at the Under 23 level and is hungry for her maiden Elite win.

Karen Hanlen © Alan Ofsoski

Added pressure for all riders exists, as winning countries in the men’s and women’s cross country races will secure a vital rider position for their country at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

In the Downhill, all eyes will be on Jared Graves, a Toowoomba local, the 2014 Enduro World Series Champion and 2014 Enduro World Champion.

Jared Graves, 2014 Enduro World Series round 6, Whistler (Dave Trumpore)

Graves is internationally renowned due to his amazing abilities in every cycling discipline, especially across all off-road disciplines. He has represented Australia at the Olympics in BMX and has stood on National and World podiums in Downhill, Four-Cross, Eliminator, Enduro and Cross Country.

In the women’s Downhill, Australia’s Tegan Molloy is stepping up to Elite for the first time and will be looking to make a statement on the tough Southern Queensland trails.

The Oceania Championships will also see the first Cross Country Eliminator international-level racing in Australia since the 2014 Cairns World Cup, in which Sam Gaze recorded a win that surprised even himself.

Massive focus will be on Paul Van der Ploeg (VIC), the World Champion in the discipline in 2013 who is now fit and well following shoulder surgeries leading into the 2014 season.

Racing action will continue across Saturday and Sunday in the final round of the 2014/15 Subaru National Mountain Bike Series.

In an exciting first for an MTBA event, the Oceania Championships Downhill finals will be streamed free and live to the internet on Friday afternoon.