The Real Insurance XCM Series is heating up! With the best three results out of a possible five events to count, the Series was specifically designed so that there is ample opportunity for a fair go at logging three good results. That means if a rider does all five of the Series events, the worst two finishes are discarded. And with three events left in the series, anyone can win! CycleNation will release an analysis of the rankings in the next two weeks highlighting different categories within the overall field. The first analysis is of the highly competitive overall men’s category.
Some riders opted to make their charge in the three remaining events by taking using the opportunity (or by taking the gamble) to miss one or both of the first two events.
The Series is still wide open, even for riders that haven’t done either of the first 2 events The Elite Male riders that have made a solid start are:
Ben Mather (Avanti Plus) is the current leader with 4,746 points and will wear the Real Insurance XCM Series leader’s jersey at the Husky on August 7. Mather has done very well so far with a 1st place at the Dirt Works 100 NSW and a 3rd place for the Capital Punishment. As the overall leader Mather will be a marked man going into the final three events.
After winning the Capital Punishment, Dylan Cooper (Trek Bicycles) missed the Dirt Works 100 NSW, which led him to slip from 1st down to 79th on the official rankings. Cooper currently has 2,550 points and can take the lead if he can get two podium positions, and finish ahead of Mather.
Matthew Fleming (Clarence Street Cyclery) is placed very well with 4,379 (2nd) points finishing 2nd at Dirt Works 100 NSW and 6th at the Capital Punishment. Depending on how Mather and Cooper go Fleming may be able to take the Series if he can get at least 2 more 2nd place finishes. Or even better, a win and a 2nd place for Fleming will make the outcome really interesting.
Sean Lewis (Rockstar Racing) has 4,236 points (3rd) after a 3rd at the Dirt Works 100 NSW and an 8th at the Capital Punishment. If Lewis is able to bag a win and a 2nd he could take the Series.
The fact that Jason English (Flight Centre Merida) left his charge for the Series quite late is going to make for a really interesting latter part of the Series. English currently has 2,140 (82nd) points for his 4th position at the Dirt Works 100 NSW, which means he will have very little margin to play with in the remaining three events.
Another rider that has made a very start in the Series is Peter Hatton (Trek Bicycles). Hatton missed the Dirt Works NSW but earned 2,286 points for his 2nd place at the Capital Pinishment (80th).
Other riders that are placed well after the 2 events are James Downing (Lonsdale Street Cyclery) 4,091 points (4th), and Anthony Shippard 4,074 points (5th).
Even though the above riders have made a strong start in the series, with only two races down, anyone can win. Very limited entries are still available for the remaining three events so make sure you get in quick.
There is $15,000 up for grabs for the top finishers in the Series – game on:
Real Insurance XCM Series Overall – Male:
1. $4,000
2. $2,000
3. $1,000
4. $500
5. $250
Real Insurance XCM Series Overall – Female:
1. $1,000
2. $750
3. $500
Real Insurance XCM Half Marathon Series Overall – Male:
1. $1,000
2. $500
3. $250
Real Insurance XCM Half Marathon Series Overall – Female:
1. $250
2. $150
3. $100
KOM $2,000
QOM $750