2013 National Championships, Rototua

3rd place at the 2013 MTB National Championships here in Rotorua was not quite what I was after at the national champs obviously, but I’m pretty stoked with it. I was realistically fighting for 3rd before the gun went off with the form Dirk has, and the world class form Anton will always have, but I wanted to spoil the Anton and Dirk show and I had mentally and physically prepared for it and usually get a big lift for big events but today it wasn’t going to happen.

After 5 mins of racing the gap slowly started opening after lap one I was already 15 seconds down the gap slowly increased until mid race where I lapped for a few laps with Sam Shaw and we held the gap, with 3 laps of the 7 to go I left Sam to ride on my own and secured the 3rd spot but still losing to the 2 boys in front by 2 mins 54 in the end. I felt pretty strong and mid race showed I could match the other boys in front. Thanks to the massive crowds of people out there cheering us on and my little brother for going to the effort to make signs and chalk up the road. Plus my whole family for been there
I stood on top of the Elite podium but I’m not sure what happens with the UCI points if I get full Elite point because the other 2 were U23 or what Bikenz haven't really made this clear to us but the 3rd place points will be a hell of a lot better than my 2012 6th place.

A wee bit of a mixed NZ season on the Mountain Bike for me with a bit to much road racing but it was always the plan and will make me stronger in the long run, now the MTB will take over for the rest of my year. We are having a little rest now and then full swing for Oceania’s in 6 weeks in Tazzy, NZXC will also be heading down to do Mototupu in 19 days so stay tuned.

Massive thanks to Evan for all the hard work he puts into me and always believing in my abilities.
My Mum for continuing to bail out her 24 year old son
Sam with all the NZXC Racing side of things
Bike Culture for looking after my bikes I have been pretty demanding in the last few weeks and they are always fitting me in and fixing up my gear.
NZbyBike.com for helping us travel this year.
Trek, Waiariki, Waiariki Academy of Sport, Bontrager, Geax, Tineli, NZO, Shotz, Camelbak, Adidas, Magellan

Carl

Wilson's sign after my we nail  accident 

Debbie Retief

Debbie Retief

Wayne Jones-Nevrilk

Pro Photo Debbie Retief

Debbie Retief

Elite podium minus Ed Crossling

Wayne Jones-Nevrilk

NZMTB Cup #3 Hanua

Round 3 of the NZMTB Cup took us to the Hanua Ranges in Auckland, this was the final round of the short NZ season, NZXC rolled into the Hanua's on Friday to get a lap of the track in. I had just received my new Trek Superfly so preceded to build this up and just hangout at the trailer whilst everyone went riding...

Because on Waitangi day Sam and I went Sailing and afterwards I stood on a 4 inch nail sticking out of a peace of 4by2. At the time I was quite calm but in a bit of shock as it went in pretty deep and straight through my protective Jandel. I did this when I was a kid and that feeling was the same it Bloooody hurts. The pain got worse over night and the next day I was crippled I couldn't walk or even bare it touching the ground. This is when panic set in I thought I was in deep shit with nationals been only a 9 days away the possibility of antibiotics and a tetanus and better still I couldn't drive myself to the doctor to get it cleaned up and looked at. Luuka my flat mate ended up running round after me for the day So massive thanks to her. I ended up having to have it snipped open a bit and cleaned with iodine, a tetanus (dead arm) and got a 7day block of antibiotics which has peeved me off but now ill be fresh for nationals that’s for sure.

We stayed in Pukekohe with my Aunty and Uncle and Cousins who looked after the team very well and put food on the table for us every night. Friday night my foot still didn’t fit in a shoe but Saturday it did with a few pain killers I was sweet to ride and got a few laps in.

Race day I was Amped up ready to go a few more pain kills and a squeeze to fit the foot in my shoe I was off, I raced the new 29er the track was very tight but not so technical so it roll so good and really opened up on the gravel sections, I needed to get used to it before the nationals so it was the perfect opportunity to test it out.

Wayne Jones-Nevrilk

last lap pack I was swinging on the back 

I raced well considering my situation so I was happy finishing off 5th, I was rolling round in 4th for 2 laps then 3rd for 2 more laps and slipped back to 5th for the last 2 laps I managed to stay on my bike and I watched so many of the boys around me catch up to me then get caught off guard by the tight trees and hit the deck and have to chase me again.

Wayne Jones-Nevrilk

        I ended up finishing off the series in 2nd, with Dirk taking the win and Adrian Retief 3rd.

Its all rest time now one more hard session ahead of me mid week before we line up Saturday for the big one National Champs. If you’re around or don’t have plans for Saturday make sure you head to the forest to cheer us on the bigger the crowd the better the racing.

Carl

Ps.. Katie had her 6 month Check up is aloud back on the mountain bike so we may see her out this weekend also if riding this week goes well :)

    

NZMTB Cup #2 Wellington

Race 2 of the NZMTB Cup series rolled in to Wellington on the same weekend as the IRB 7s Party booked up all the accommodation and had the streets packed with people dressed up in assorts. Bloody good fun people watching with the NZXC team and recruits Cayley, Karen and Tom. NZXC couldn't find accommodation and Tom Bradshaw offered us to stay with him and his family we were very grateful and were well looked after.

Wayne Jones-Nevrilk

The day dawned with a clear, sunny day with light Wellington breeze. By the time 2pm rolled round temperatures were above 25 degrees and the up hills were baking. Tom Bradshaw lead us up the 1st part of the climb, then I took the lead until the highest point of the course where Dirk sprinted over me to be in the single track first I was happy to be here but after 15 seconds of descending I had a loose moment and dropped his wheel this 20 meter gap just kept opening and Matt Waghorn sprint around me on my next loose moment an up hill drift. Not an Ideal first 5 mins but at this stage I was in well in 3rd place, but I was still descending pretty average and on lap 3 I hit the Mt Vic hero dirt pretty hard which actually helped me worked out my limits, By this stage tho Sam Shaw had past me and I had past Matt Waghorn, so we had switched around abit. Towards the end of the race I got my boost on and started closing gaps to Sam but he ended up still been 40 second in front and Dirk a massive 3min 20 odd up on me.

Wayne Jones-Nevrilk

Wayne Jones-Nevrilk

(c) Adrian Rumney 2013

There are lots of pictures floating around here are a few of the best ones from NZXC and Wayne Jones-Nevrilk.

The form is coming on for nationals which are only 2 weeks away now so the speed work is working. Off to Auckland this weekend for the final round in the Hanua Ranges where a tight gravely track awaits us.

Katie is off to her Surgeon on Friday for her 6 month x-ray, we have all fingers and toes crossed that she is all fused up and its good news 

Carl