Wollongong Mountain Bike Club

Final National XC Series Race Report - Josh Carlson.

WMBC Club member Josh Carlson reports on the final round of the National XC Series.

Finally, the fifth and final round of the Australian mountain bike series, held in Glenorchy, Hobart Tasmania, has offered up some fantastic 'normal' weather!

The weekend of feb 28/mar 1 saw the Australian series champions crowned and the series over with for 2008/2009. It was held at the Glenorchy mountain bike park, 20 mins outside of Hobart, on a tough challenging course which defiantly brought out Australia’s best riders.

It was a tough 6km loop for the XC with a long draggy climb to start with, some wicked descents and a killer long hill to race around for 7 laps. Lap times were around the 17 - 21min mark and the overall time between 2 hrs 4mins(approx) - 2hrs 25mins. (anyone who finished outside this time was lapped or DNF'd.

I started off the race down the field up the first climb. Knowing that it was going to be a super long hard race, i didn't want to blow early and limp home. I slowly clawed my way back through the field and placed 13 overall. This was 6th place in elite men. (elite and under23 race together but are scored separate).

The leaders set a crazy fast pace and lapped up to and including 14th. Glad i was far enough ahead of them coming around, not to get lapped. This almost wasn't the case though.

At the completion of my fifth lap, the lap scorers made the mistake of giving me the last lap ell for my sixth lap.(the race was set for 7 laps) I was way confused but they seemed pretty adamant that was the case and so i set out riding the last lap as hard as i could with what i had left thinking this was the end..WRONG!!

They stuffed it up and thought i was apart of the lead group, which was rapidly coming up behind me. *this was mainly caused by the Australian champion Chris Jongewaard double flatting on lap 1 and madly chasing the leaders, eventually coming from way last to within seconds of the leaders until flatting again and finishing a distant 2nd*

So i received the bell again and was filthy about, mainly because i was spent from that last lap!

A measly "sorry" was all they could offer me as i picked my tongue up and tried to reattach my poopher valve and get through the last lap. Not happy Jan! but that’s racing ay.

For the series i placed 12th in the overall Elite/under 23 men. I placed 7th in my elite men category. Just outside the top 10 in the overall but a top 10 in the elite men in my first full season was a pleasing result.

A lot was learnt from this series and a lot of good times and stories was had. My spearman cycles Giant carbon hardtail preformed awesome at all of the races and never missed a beat!. I raced on some of the toughest tracks I’ve raced on so far and it stoked up to the challenge and passed with flying colours. The only bike i would have chose for all the conditions.

Next on the list is the Oceania Mountain bike Championships, held at Thredbo on the 21st/22nd of march. Till next time, ride lots and ride safe!!

Thanks,

Josh Carlson.
Wollongong Mountain Bike Club Member