After a crazy weather week, blue sky and sun welcomed riders to the top of the chairlift at Thredbo for Stage 1 of the 2012 Mountains To Beach this morning.
The Limar Mountain Run, hosted by Thredbo was a 12km ride from the top of the mountain to finish in the village centre, and the only time trial of the week. First off was the Tandem team of John Domandl/Rob Watson, blazing the way for the rest of the 94 riders. Defending Mountains To Beach champion Andy Fellows (0:32:39) from Queensland got off to a flying start holding off Canberra’s Dylan Cooper (0:33:24) and Port Macquarie’s Jason English (0:33:27), the winner of the event in 2009 and 2010. Ria Johansen (0:52:17) took a useful 3 minute lead from Merryl King (0:55:14) followed by Helen Dorsett (0:56:29) in 3rd.
There was plenty of mud, a little blood and a lot of smiles as the field came down the mountain. From there it was a non-race cruise stage to the stunning Lake Crackenback Resort for this afternoon’s stage, The Maxxis Muster. The Muster was shortened a little, with a few kilometres of the trail still suffering the effects of last week’s rains. Sunscreen was out, lunch was had and it was back into battle.
The afternoon stage saw that fine Fellows do it again, making it two out of two. Andy and Jason English opened up a useful 1 minute gap over Dylan Cooper, who had to stop and tighten his seat post, after the first lap. It was a time penalty he never recovered. Andy led Jason to the finish line by 2 seconds in 0:56:13, with Dylan nearly 2 minutes behind in 0:58:07. Ria extended her lead over Merryl King by another 4 minutes, finishing in 1:19:04 and with Helen another minute behind. Ria claims to be a shorter course specialist so Merryl, known more as an endurance athlete, is possibly set to regain some time in tomorrow’s 75km Osprey Hydraulics stage.
Riders and bikes were filthy at the end of the stage, but in the words of this year’s race song, The Scaffolds Is Everybody Happy? – ‘Monday is Washing Day’!
After a luxurious night at Lake Crackenback Resort, the race moves up to Perisher, via Skitube, the underground railway, to start the 75km Osprey Hydraulics Mountain Traverse; a stunning ride across Kosciuszko National Park to finish on the shores of Lake Eucumbene.
Andy Fellows goes to the start line with a lead of 50 seconds over Jason English, with Dylan Cooper 3 minutes behind. Ria defends a near 7 minute lead over Merryl King
For full event details visit www.wildhorizons.com.au