Motatapu 2013

NZXC Racing was lucky enough to be asked to race the Motatapu MTB race as part of the Motatapu Multisport festival, We flew down Friday afternoon to Dunedin and hired a little mini van and boosted it to Queenstown where we stayed with Dan from NZbyBike and his partner Haylee who had un real dinner cooked for us on our arrival. We were living like pro's for the weekend that was for real we were well looked after.

Race day dawned very cloudy and a very slight drizzle that Dirk recons he felt, with No rain since xmas the roads were fast but slippery we had a 47km race in front of us and everyone thought record pace was on. The course was mainly 4 wheel drive tracks and quite fast we climbed for 34km with lots of false flat and steep pinches and lots of river crossings that would have been handy to know lines through, a short 13km down hill that was super fast was to follow with very deep river crossings. Dirk and myself were told to run the last few crossings as the river was deep so we ran about the last 15 to 20 crossings as we didn’t no where the end was...

There was a bit of mess up with the start of the day the Marathon that was ment to start at 8am over the same course started 45mins late as one of the busses crashed into a ditch after dropping half the runners off. We were not told of the delay until we were on the start line at 10.45 with the race due to start at 11.

I had my pre race drink mix and caffeine at 20 past 10 and we didn’t get going until 11.30 so an hour and 10 minutes of caffeine doing its thing on the start line was not ideal.

I had a strong start with me and Dirk doing a bit of team tactics after pushing hard on the 1st few climbs we let dirk roll away and I sat on the other guys and let them chase him. After a few mins Dirk was coming back to us at a rate of knots his bars had come loose and Brad Hudson attacked and I chased Brad as Dirk fixed his bars. Dirk got back in and went up the road again this time I let him go again waited for a hill and used my roadie instincts to attacked past Brad to join Dirk at the front of the race, we worked very hard together trying to get a gap on Brad but to Brads credit he wasn't slipping to far away. After a good 20mins Dirks bars come loose again and he left me on my own at this point I thought I could and would win the race, after another 20mins of been alone I cracked about 5km from the top of the hill 30mins from the end... Brad and Dirk went by and I was left alone on struggle street to defend 3rd place with a Jet lagged Anton Cooper and Tom Bradshaw somewhere behind I had to drain the tank to hold them off.
Pretty gutted at the end of the race cracking 30mins from the end and having a 30min delay to the start maybe this was my day? After feeling pretty strong early on, ahwell it was the same for most.

Dirk went on to win and break Anton Coopers 2012 record by 53 seconds and Brad rolled in a few seconds behind him and I held on to 3rd.

L-R Anton Cooper, Me, Brad Hudson, DP, (big-dog racing) Tom Bradshaw

A massive thanks has to go out to Southsure Insurance who Sponsored NZXC for the weekend it was huge of them to get us to one of the biggest mountain bike races of the year in NZ Thanks

Also Dan and Haylee for the hospitality

Tineli for the primo Southsure Insurance kit.

and Sam for getting us there stress free

Cheers

Carl

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    

       

2013 Elite road nationals

Friday afternoon myself and Katie flew from Queenstown where we were based with NZXC and headed to Christchurch where Sunday I was having my 1st crack at the Elite road nationals.
I was to do 182km 12 laps of the course that was set with 10 of these laps going up the steepest part of dyers pass road, this is the part of the race where it breaks to peaces every year. Christchurch had put on a very hot day with temperatures in the 30s I was going to be tough.

Photo Bruce Wilson

There was 74 starters in the race and only 20 finished the race last year only 14 finished. I wanted to finish...
I knew it was going to be hard but I can usually climb ok so I thought I should be able to keep up on the hill and the flat would be the harder art for me, however right from the 1st time up the hill I was at new max heart rates trying for dear life to hang on to the top NZ international pro and amateur riders. After 6 about 90km, laps 5 up dyers pass the heat was getting to me (felt like i was breathing dust i was so dry) and my legs were no longer able to keep up I drifter to far off the back and on the decent was left behind. On the flat that lap the pace went on and over half the field dropped out of the race including well known pro riders.

Photo Bruce Wilson

Photo Rebekah Tregurtha

From here most of the riders went back to the party on the hill up dyers pass where it was like the Tour de France with people all over the road with a meter for the riders to ride through. That was an amazing experience. From here the fireworks started happening, each time up the climb less riders were coming up and only the best were left, on the final lap up the hill our good mate George Bennett just absolutely went next level and left the remaining riders to chase him with only 20km on the flat to go we thought George would hold the chasers off but with a few km's to go his Pro tour team mate Hayden Roulston bridged the gap and took the win.

Bluff NZMTB Cup # 1

As most of you know by now this year we got together with Sam Thompson and created a team with existing and new sponsors, we are now under the banner NZXC Racing, Sam Thompson is the team manager, with Myself, Katie, Dirk Peters and Amber Johnston as the riders.

We are travelling in style in a Waiariki van towing a massive 6 meter trailer Sam built, kitted out with all the bikes hanging and boxes of gear stacked round the place.

Bluff was our 1st race as a team. 3am friday morning we drove to Auckland and flew to Queenstown where Sam and partner Lydia were waiting to mission us to bluff.

The track was very cool, one solid technical up, and one rocky mine field decent. My start was fine slotting in behind Dirk and Anton into the head wind this was a smart idea and they lead up the climb. Being a roadie these days the decent had me on the ropes from the top and after the tire buzzing all the way up the hill Anton and Dirk dealt to me leaving me behind instantly. After this none of the elite boys caught up but 2 of the under 19s did, Sam Gaze was 1st but a messy line down a rock garden soon has his rear tire hissing air and his race over. 2nd was young Christchurch rider Ben Oliver he caught me on his last lap and dealt to me on the decent also. Finished up 2nd to Dirk and Adrian Retief 3rd.

This track had a lot of flat tires and Mechanical's I broke a spoke on my 1st practice lap and got a flat tire 15mins before race start, and loads of people hit the rock gardens off line and paid dearly.

As a team we did as good as we could have done this weekend with Amber winning the U19 race and Dirk  and me 1st and  2nd in the elite race. Massive thanks to nzbybike.com for helping us get down to the South Island as a team, and Katie for feeding us and being part of the team even though she is unable to MTB just yet. she is chomping at that bit finding it hard to just sit and watch us.

This weekend I am doing the Elite road nationals in Christchurch, packed around the race I have been doing Intervals and am feeling the strain but hopefully it will all pay off this weekend.

At the bottom of the South

Cheers for now
Carl

Remember to check out the NZXC racing Facebook page and Website  
www.nzxcracing.com
http://www.facebook.com/Nzxcracing?fref=ts

2013

Thought it would be fitting to do a new year post as I have not updated in awhile. 

I have had my 4 month Xrays and check up… Turns out I am not a freakishly fast bone healer and it is still yet to fuse on the right hand side. So hoping for some progress over the next two months before my next check in. (it is usually supposed to take up to 6 months – so fingers crossed). Mainly the pain I experience in my back is related to the fact one side is yet to fuse but it is the muscular pain which really gets me. Due to muscular imbalances I have to work twice as hard just to sit with friends or at work and this for me is the hardest part about the recovery, struggling to do and enjoy the simple things. With time all this will come right though but until then I will just have to head to bed when tired, swap chairs for lying on the floor and slowly build up.

My latest Xray

Although I will not be able to mountain bike until hopefully March/April I have been able to road ride outside since the start of December and have built up to 1hr - 1hr 30 rides about 4 times a week. I have also been given the ok to swim so this is progress as for the last 4months I have been unable to rotate and lastly I am able to keep building on my gym work. So although I still take each day as it comes and often need to rest I have definitely come along way.

I will be travelling down south on the 4^th of January to see how NZXC rolls. Over this time I will be continuing with my ‘training’ and support the other riders as they race. 

Gym sessions at the Flat

First Bike Ride - pretty scary