Adrian Jackson
Adrian ‘AJ’ Jackson could justifiably be called Australia’s most versatile cross-country mountain-bike rider. Since 2004 he has won or placed in numerous cross-country, 24-hour, marathon and stage races throughout Australia and across the world. A keen competitor and commited athlete, he has represented Australia for orienteering, mountain-bike orienteering (for which he is a multiple World Champion) and marathon mountain-bike racing. Currently racing for the Merida-Flight Centre Team, MarathonMTB.com talked to Jackson about how he ended up as one of his nation’s elite racers.
“I started mountain-biking as a junior, and did the state and national champs for cross-country back around 1999 or 2000, but then I focused on orienteering. I went to the world championships for orienteering twice. It was about 2004 that I started doing more specific mountain-biking,” he explains.
The period coincided with the growth of marathon mountain biking and multi-day stage races in Australia. One of the first of these events was the Central Australia Bike Challenge (now the Red Centre Mountain-bike Enduro), which Jackson admits may have been a turning point in terms of his life on a bike.
“It was probably the first long day in the Central Australia Bike Challenge, the 90 kilometre-long stage,” he says of the race he eventually won overall in 2009. “That was my first proper day on the bike, where you’re there for over three hours. I finished fourth overall that year.”
While his race calendar has increasingly included races on foreign soil, he still shows a firm dedication to races in his home country. “In summer I mostly focus on XC; doing the [Australian] National Series. I will typically do the Otway Odyssey too, as it’s an event that’s close by and well run,” he says.
Jackson won the Otway Odyssey in 2010, beating many top cross-country and marathon riders such as Craig Gordon, Jason English, Shaun Lewis and Lachlan Norris – amongst many other strong riders. “That was a highlight for me, partly because I was surprised to get the win. The field was great, and I just had the form. Generally, if you have the form for XC, you will be pretty good for a marathon.”
Adrian Jackson in full flight for Merida-Flight Centre
Racing for the Merida-Flight Centre Team, Jackson explained that he still gets to choose most of the races he enters. “As a team we do the big 24hr events, like the Kona, Scott and the Mont, plus we do the Flight Centre Epic Marathon. Most of us do the National XC Series too, but otherwise we can really focus on what we like.”
Jackson doesn’t leave the racing there. He is well travelled with a bike bag in tow, and has just returned home from France, where he took part in the Roc d’Azur. Comparing to other European events he has competed in, Jackson noted differences in terrain and field.
“The longer marathon was a fair bit smaller. It was a UCI C2 event so not as many of the hitters were there, they sat it out to save themselves for the 50 kilometre a couple of days later. This wasn’t really XC or a typical marathon, just a big loop. The terrain was different to what you would normally have in a Euro marathon. It was quite rocky, with lots of tecnical descents, and steep ones too. There were lots of rocks and sharp objects. The main race was full on, with a World Cup quality field.”
Jackson’s overseas highlight, though, was the Tour de Timor. Now in its second year, Jackson had heard it was tough, and wanted to compete. “It was a really tough race, very stressful. It was such a high and a relief to come away with the win. You hear about the challenges you will face racing somewhere like East Timor, but you can never fully prepare yourself for the challenges that come up.”
Not many Australian Mountain Bikers get the chance to compete as a professional, but in 2009 Jackson rode with the Multivan Merida Team for the Trans Germany week-long stage race. In a week that was characterised by rain, mud, and high speeds – he said the professional nature of the support provided made a huge impression.
“The level of support in Europe is just at another level. We had two mechanics and a swanny [soigneur] for four guys. That is unheard of in Australia, you just can’t experience that here. Everything was extremely organised. All you need to do is turn up somewhere at a certain time, and everything will be ready. You don’t need to think about all the little things.”
Tackling a rock garden
But there’s a reason why the teams get so much support over there, and Jackson isn’t shy about saying why. “The level of support is much higher, but then so are the athletes. While Chris Jongeward can compete well over there when he’s on form, in Europe there would be ten more with the same ability.”
After the 2010/2011 Australian National Series, Jackson, who is completing a doctorate in Aerospace Engineering isn’t certain of his plans.
“I need to finish off my PhD next year, but I would like to go overseas for the Karapoti again. I have been there three times, and last time I was close to the win. I came over the last climb five minutes clear. I had had a flat earlier, and in the last few kms it went down again. To then be passed so close to the line after having had 5 minutes was frustrating. Pete Hatton is the only Australian to have won, so I would like to make it two of us.”