Pioneer Stage One
Stage One of the Pioneer headed to Christchurch Adventure Park, as riders tested themselves on the gravity trails and steep climbs ahead of their journey to the Alps.
Christchurch Adventure Park
Distance: 20.5km
Elevation: 1260m
In just its second year it is clear that The Pioneer has made an impact on the marathon stage race world. With a partnership with the ASBA Cape Epic, and the ability for the category winners to earn a an entry position for the 2018 Cape Epic, The Pioneer has really put itself at the head of the class for week-long mountain bike stage races.
And although the week ahead holds long days in alpine terrain, the Prologue, or stage one, was a shorter and sharper affair.
Opening in December 2016, the Adventure Park has the longest chair lift in New Zealand, but riders weren't touching that today – not until the park was open to the public at 10am anyway.
In the valley, an elevated cafe, bike hire shop and grassy area under the tall pines, over looking the start chute for the race. From 8am riders went off in their pairs, at 20 second intervals. First up, it was straight up a downhill trail.
The trail is baked hard from the South Island sun, and quickly gains a lot of altitude through a series of berms. A short stint of firetrail took riders to another singletrack climb up a descending trail in the trees. Finally, you pop out about 500m higher than the start, and plunge down, through scuplted bikepark trails with deep, tall berms through the pines. The second half is more exposed, with the braking bumps and blown out conditions that typifify trails that see a lot of heavy use and sun.
Then – riders did it again.
back up a singletrack climbing trail, with tight turns testing the longer wheelbases in the bunch. Sometimes riders bunched up, but overall the course had allowed for riders to get a good spread over the course, allowing time to look back over to Christchurch, and the peaks beyond.
The climb went on, into the forest high above again, and up the dreaded Body Bag climb. A 500m stretch of double track, there was one rideable line and a crowd. Cramping calves, slipping tyres, groaning gears and jeers from the crowd echoed down the hill.
With views to the bay, riders ripped around and into the singletrack of The Flying Nun. A lot drier than last year, the trail was fast, and at times sketchy with loose gravel!
The final plunge was into a trail that was finished… yesterday. Moon dust filled the pine forest, as light filtered in, creating an eerie atmosphere. The PA system from the event village below filled the auditorium under the canopy, and urged riders on, thorugh the corners, down the chutes and chasing their team mates to the line.
In the end, the young NZ team of James Williamson and Scott Lyle won, with one of the Spanish Masters teams in 2nd overall. Mixed teams were tight in 6th and 7th overall – clearly those teams will be close this week. Team Hirepool were fastest women, and I was lucky to come home just out of the top 10 with team mate Justin Morris after a few mechanicals.
With a transfer to Geraldine, the rider village is set. Riders are sprawled under the stretch tent, or on the grass, or at tables. Tales are long, the sun is warm and the bar is being visited with high frequency.
It is going to be a good week of mountain biking.
