And so it begins… Capital Punishment marks the first round of the Real Insurance XCM Series Powered by CycleNation for 2011. Being race on Saturday 19th March, the date has moved forwards from last years event, which should bring better weather and improved light conditions for the start.
The Capital Punishment event has sold out, and all competitors should read through the briefing. An interesting point of difference with this event is the staggered start. Although it is mostly self-regulated, riders are asked to stagger their starting waves in four minute blocks, depending on where they think they will finish in the field. For the athlete who can lift his or her performance through competition, this may not be ideal. But for a racer who prefers to manage their effort and race wisely, choosing the right starting block to avoid starting too hard, and also excess traffic may prove advantageous.
With plenty of big name riders taking part in both the 50 and 100km options, the racing should be competitive and entertaining. Mt Stromlo will provide a great arena for the finish, with food and drinks being served for those who come to spectate, and racers alike.
Capital Punishment is set to be a great race. Being a point to point event, it actually takes you somewhere,which is at the heart of marathon racing. Although there aren’t too many climbs, with 1500m of vertical gain, the overall downhill trend of the course profile may catch people out. Use the three feed stations to stay fuelled for the entire race.
With many mountain bikers already claiming their results for previous events, the first round of the Real Insurance XCM Series Powered by CycleNation will offer a great boost to any successful racers Ranking.
There will be four MarathonMTB.com racers (Mike Blewitt, Graeme Arnott, Justin Morris, Sam Moorhouse) in attendance, stay tuned for race reports and in-race insights soon after the event, and of course from the James Williamson Memorial Enduro this weekend.