With five completed loops, Canberra’s Ed McDonald won the 100 mile event in seven hours, 13 minutes and 25 seconds. With endurance challenges including 100 miles and 100 km, the MTB Cruise 100 event kicked off Rocky Trail’s racing season at Stromlo Forest Park on 25 February 2012.
Organisers had linked the vast network of Stromlo trails into a challenging 33km race track, the longest loop ever to feature in an endurance race at the iconic world cup venue at Stromlo Forest Park. This event has served as a good test for those Marathon MTBers who have their eyes on the MTBA Australian Marathon Championships. The venue for the MTBA XCM Championships changes each year as it is put out to tender. This year it is set to be held on the June long weekend, on two laps of e long Stromlo course.
Twenty 100 mile-competitors had lined up at 5am to start their race, four hours ahead of all other racers, riding out in the dark and coming back from their first lap as the sun had just risen over Canberra.
”It was really fantastic to have most of my riding done early when the sun wasn’t too strong … it was very enjoyable to see the sun rise from the saddle of a bike,” McDonald said.
The 23-year-old has plenty of experience in the endurance racing scene – having raced in seven 24-hour events he came to defend his 100-mile title at the MTB Cruise last year.
”100 miles is a distance where it is not just about pure speed – it is also about endurance and how well you look after yourself during the day and sensible pacing.”
The 100 mile podium was dominated by local riders, with Ed McDonald’s fellow Canberrans, Andrew Hall in second and Brett Bellchambers in third.
Liz Smith from Mt Ousley (NSW) won the 100 mile Elite Women’s race and Hugh Stodart claimed the Masters category.
The 100km field gets the day started. Photo: Lance Learne
The 2011 Real Insurance XCM series champion Dylan Cooper defended his 2011 MTB Cruise title taking out the 100km event in the Elite Men’s category.
The 32-year-old Canberran and Rockstar Racer certainly had an advantage racing on home ground.
”This was my third race and it usually takes that many for me to get back into it. […] Over the next two months I have a lot on – am trying to hopefully win the first round and keep it going from there, so it is a good way to kick off the season,” Cooper said.
Cooper said he decided to compete in the MTB Cruise 100 event specifically as he was concentrating on the longer endurance formats.
Completing three laps, Cooper finished ahead of Mark Tupalski (second) and former solo world champion Craig Gordon (third).
Two female riders competed in the 100 km Elite category and Amy Bardsley-Smith won ahead of Lana Moy. Wendy Stevenson and Tony Rice won the Masters (40+) age classification and Garry James claimed the Super Masters (40+) category.
Subaru-MarathonMTB were represented by Graeme Arnott, who headed down from Sydney for the day.
“The Australian Marathon Nationals are expected to be run in Canberra in June so this was a good chance for a reconnaissance mission. I enjoy riding Stromlo although each time the rocky sections remind me how much I need to improove my tech skills. Saturday was no exception with Rocky Trail honouring their name and including some bone jarring sections of trail in their 33km loop. The awesome flat out sections, the bermed decents and the fantastic switchback climbs were in there too. Love the climbs at Stromlo – seriously! All-in-all a varied and challenging race track was set” said Arnott.
Sometimes, you can’t always find time in a working week to get away in time. A late departure from Sydney want some car camping was in order for Arnott.
“After an amazing sunrise pulled me from slumber in the back of the car, a hot shower at Stromlo (love those showers), a quick trip to the supermarket for breakfast, sign on and bike build (still in the box from Otway), the 100km event kicked off. The Rockstar reps, Dylan Cooper and Craig Gordon, flew off the start line and squiggled their way off into the distance. Slick Rock almost claimed the head of El Gordo on the first lap, but a quick check of the head wound depth by a fellow rider gave him the all-clear and he continued on. My speed really was cruise speed although it wasn’t for lack of trying. The funny thing about riding Stromlo is that being fast is not about pedalling hard. You need to be smooth and handle the bike well. I’m sure that this will be key at the National Champs later in the year. A rider who is exceptionally good technically, and probably a Canberra local, will win. Perhaps Dylan Cooper, who won the day on Saturday pretty comfortably.”
Rocky Trail’s racing season continues with their all-mountain Rollercoaster race on 18 March at Del Rio Resort in Wisemans Ferry and their 4 and 7-hour endurance racing series kicks off with the SHIMANO MTB Grand Prix on 21 April at Awaba MTB Park
For detailed results and event information, visit www.rockytrailentertainment.com