NZ MTB Cup Cross Country, Christchurch Cat2

Spending the week in Christchurch leading into the second round we were stoked to have found summer, FINALLY. Weather conditions however took a sharp turn Sunday and the day saw cold southerlies and rain broken up with flashes of summer. With the rain nervs were high wondering if the dry tires would hold up on a track we had never seen in the wet. Rumor had it that it would not turn to mud like Dunedin but more to a slippery greasy surface. The first lap was indeed a little wet, however sticking with the dry tires worked out as the laps following it was back to the dry track we knew from practice laps.

Spectators were out in full force and really supportive it was a great atmosphere.

 

CARL – ELITE MENS

  I was a bit nervous with the weather and having full on dry tires on, but after slipping and sliding a lap it started to dry out fast. I was sitting in 3rd for a few laps behind flying local Brad Hudson and DP Dirk Peters. All I wanted to do was enough win and try save some gas for next week. As Anton Copper caught up yet again, I went with him again I was the only one to be able to go with him and soon opened up a very healthy lead into the decent. Then the locals boosted…Anton was gone and brad was coming back. going on to the last lap I was buggered and really starting to feel the size of the hill, but Dirk and Brad were together and racing hard closing in. once I got to the top of the hill I rolled down and enjoyed the win. hopefully the gas tank will refill asap.

Chch

 

 

 

KATIE - ELITE WOMENS

Bit of a tangle at the start saw me pushed out and off to a bad start taking a bit of time to close gaps and get back up to the front of the field but never quite to Karen Hanlan’s wheel. From here 2nd place it was with Jolanda Neff close behind. A much better performance than Dunedin and staying true to what I am hoping and have been planning for which is getting stronger and stronger each race as the season progresses. Debbie Retief did a great job in the feed zone even with my sudden change of drink plan as I changed to just water and my Enervit gels (with instant boost :) after feeling rather uncomfortable on a stronger drink mix ratio I was trialing for the race. It was also great to have my dad out there supporting me as I am from Christchurch originally I always enjoy my stay here with Dad. Even the dog was supportive who tried chasing me at one point, I was too scared to look just praying dad still had hold of the leash as BRAINS are something unheard of for Alvie the dog.

 

 

Enjoying a recovery day today – with recovery ride follow by Hanmer Springs as the evening plan before heading to Nelson to get the track dialed in for Nationals on Tuesday.

Daily post article - Jones and Peters battle the mud to beat aussies

http://www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/news/jones-and-peters-battle-the-mud-to-beat-aussies/1240251/

NZ MTB CUP ROUND 1 – cat 1

Dunedin put on the weather leading into Sundays event 6 weeks of no rain and then it dumped down on friday, and it was another muddy race in the student city.

The race was held on signal hill, meant for a good atmosphere bringing the xcers and dhlers into the same event village. The track was brutal a hard climb followed by a muddy descent, very testing.

Sundays weather held out, with rain threatening but holding off until the race and prize giving was over – it almost felt like summer racing up signal hill, it wasn’t until after the race the hail which the met service had predict came.

B4 the start between the Ozy boys

(photo by Kashi)

Carl – Won the elite men’s race after 6 laps in field which was stacked with NZ and 2 of Australia's best men Chris Jongewaard the Australian National Champion, and Paul Van Der Ploeg, we were all racing for crucial olympic qualification points in the cat 1 event, right from the start my self and under 19 Trek world racing rider Anton Cooper rode off the front, Anton sprinted me into the single track at the top of the hill and was stuck between racing him for his 5 laps for pride or racing my 6 laps safely and winning a UCI Cat 1 race, he was out descending me all day and slowly pulled away so that was that he won his race. I won mine. I’m still buzzing after winning this race and with 3 more cat 2 races in NZ i’m sure it will be more of the same tactics.

Katie – 4th place in an equally strong women's field tackling 5 laps of the tough track, with Olympian Rosara Joseph, Karen Hanlan who claimed the win, and Jolanda Neff (Swiss rider and jnr World cup winner) coming in ahead.

Definitely and exciting race to kick of the season, next weekend Christchurch on another demanding course. Christchurch is often known for turning up the heat with scorching hot days with the heat providing equally tough conditions to factors like mud. We are now in the swing of racing and like a few months ago craving the next chance to prove ourselves on the track and see what we can put out on the day.

Tour de Whaka

Mean weekend racing the Tour de Whaka and its 4 stages. The format changed slightly with the TT which was ment to be on Sunday being moved with the threat of really bad weather, and what a good call that was, as Sunday it pelted down for the XC race.

Carl's Weekend of racing: After the Hill Climb we both were winning I was up 15 seconds over Dirk and 45 second over Mike Northcott. We went started at the bottom of direct road and went to the top of frontal labottomy. In a hard training ride I usually get up the hill in around 15 and half mins, so i thought 14 and a half would be a reasonable time for us in the race but the conditions were perfect and I pulled out a 13.25.

The super D was from the top of Spit ends down Pondy dh into Pondy new and onto Rollercoaster. It was a huge 18min 30 secs with a 2min uphill in it, for me and Dirk that 18 odd mins couldn't seperate us. Both of us finishing on the same second. We were 2nd equal with Sam Shaw smashing us by 20 seconds.

On the TT of old chevy I was really nervous because my lead was only 15 seconds and I wanted more.

At the end, after Ra had talked us all up I pulled 12 second more over the 5km track to Dirk,

After day One I had 27 seconds over Dirk, 1.03 over Sam Shaw and Mikey Northcott 1.04. 

Day 2 It was so wet and windy over night the tracks were very flooded but we still had a race to do.

Right from the start I wanted to push it, as it's so closer to nationals so I took off with about 4 attacks from the front few of us along the first few km of road, into the first single track there was a chain of 6 of us at the end of the track there was 4 and then the first hill there was just myself and Dirk. We had a massive battle all the way to the finish with me coming out on top and taking the win of the tour by 28 second.

Carl

Katies Racing:  my first day of racing in the tour was a bit flat. I struggled to put the hammer down in the hill climb, and the nerves were definately high at the top of the hill with the uncertainty of my position. The beauty of a stage race was there were still 3 more races to go. A ride down Billy T was the chosen route to get to the start of the Supper D which is always good fun. We then got to enjoy some interesting 'banter' and stories at the top waiting for our turns. I spent most of my time however eyeing up food, although I was smart enough to ride up with a jacket in my pocket I forgot to pack in something to eat. Stage race nutrition = EPIC FAIL! I managed to score a few lollies thanks Sam and Nigel (mmm straight from a bikers pocket, with no wrapping...). The Super D was good fun and I was stoked to get to the end, to the tent area where my food was waiting... although instantly after consumption I wondered if I would regret eating that much during the TT which was fast approaching. Old Chevy is a testing wee track, requiring effort throughout the whole duration which made for a great TT and no regrets on the food front, I was much more comfortable than the stage prior where all I could think was FOOOD!!.  I finished up the day with around a 1min lead.

 

After the racing we went out to the pig and it was great meal and evening, the guys spent the night on Carls case getting him geed up.

 

The rain set in over night and Sunday morning the XC race was still on. perfectly muddy and wet! There were no real climbs to seperate everyone up or gain big advantages but I hoped I would be able to extend my lead and find my race legs which were not all there the day prior (protest from the interval training during the week, or maybe just the hill climb, along with everyone else's :) ). I really enjoyed racing with a couple of the JNR guys especially if they were infront testing the puddles and not me, although I was the test rider for biggie on the lion trail. On the whole I felt a bit better during the XC race than Saturday, stoked to take the win. It was a great event to open up a get some race hardening before Dundein our first National round.

 

Katie

 

 

PHOTO/BEN FRASER Daily post

 

check out the Daily post write up. http://www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/news/jones-pips-peters-for-win/1231605/  

2012

 

Its all on, the racing begins this week for us and we are very excited to get into racing on our new Treks. We have been training hard and trying to avoid racing to soon, but with 3 weeks until nationals the racing kicks off. This weekend in Rotorua, N-duro events are holding 2 separate events.

First up is an Eliminator race which will be held in the government gardens, Rotorua on Friday night. This is a new XC style of racing, its all for the spectators and its a hell of a lot of fun for the riders. for those who don't no what an Eliminator is… its 4 people on the start line racing around a short track of 1-2mins with the top 2 riders going through to the next round. The track’s usually include some tight turns, jumps and or other obstacles. Its going to be good fun and the more spectators the better so head on down if you are out and about.

The second event is the Tour de Whaka similar to a roadie tour but mtb’s and in the Whaka forest of Rotorua. Saturday and Sunday will see 4 stages with a Hill Climb a Super D down hill on Saturday, and an XC race and a Time trial on Sunday.

Its going to be an epic weekend here hopefully the weather turns it on and if you can get over to watch or race make sure you do.