The highly anticipated Highland Fling will get underway on Saturday evening
The festival surrounding the Highland Fling near Bundanoon, NSW, Australia, kicks off this Saturday afternoon with the ‘Dash for Cash’. Many of the Elite and Open racers will be taking part in the 6 kilometre event on Saturday evening. The inclusion of such a spectacle is a step towards the European Marathon model, whereby the town will hold a festival and often include a short track race, a hill climb, and a marathon. Beer tents and cover bands are obviously standard.
The recent wet weather has been much debated by local racers, and the forecast predicts some rain, but perhaps more notably high temperatures. However the 112 kilometre Elite event is run on a fast course that traditionally drains well. The strongest riders will still come to the fore. The 60 kilometre and 165 kilometre events use the same trails, so no category will be at a disadvantage.
In the Elite men’s race, most eyes will be on previous winners Shaun Lewis and Pete Hatton. Although they will be teaming up for the 2011 ABSA Cape Epic, it is more likely they will be adversaries this Sunday. With the strength of Lewis’ Rockstar Racing team, he has many options. MarathonMTB.com expects Troy Glennan to head off early – possibly with another opportunist in tow. Jason English is fresh from another Solo 24 hour World Championship, and can never be discounted in such an event. Matt Fleming is perennially strong in such events, but he may not have the team support like his contemporaries. However the field is larger than these riders alone, and strong performances from the likes of Australian XC World Championship representative Andy Blair, Matt Potter, Jon Odams or even the mercurial Nick Both.
Team Type One’s Justin Morris is still reserved about his chances: “I’m just looking forward to the time on the mountain-bike, and I’m stoked to get a chance to race against people like Shaun Lewis and Bothy (Nick Both) who I always looked up to as a junior”. Asked about the weather forecast, Morris was positive and confident: “Having spent about six or seven months racing in 100 per cent humidity in Georgia, USA, I think I’ll be able to handle the conditions.”
The Elite women’s field is a small group of four, but hosts such stars as Heather Logie and last year’s winner Stephanie Russell. The race for the podium will still be tight.
The 100 mile event (165 kilometre, for the actual race) will see female competitors Vanina Vergoz and Katrin Van der Spiegal play out an interesting battle. Graeme Arnott, a podium threat in the men’s event is playing his cards close to his chest. Despite being seen riding strongly on various training rides, Arnott claims his form, “is rubbish. I’m just hoping to finish.”
Come Sunday afternoon the Highland Fling will have been run and won across all categories. Check back for results, reports and photos!