There are a variety of Stage Races out there, from big point to point affairs like the Craft Bike TransAlp, or the immense ABSA Cape Epic. And then there are ones that use one central base. The Breck Epic is one of those, but in Australia we have the Ingkerreke Commercial Mountain Bike Enduro, and a few more later in the year. The ICME is based in Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory. With 7 stages over 5 days, we are racing distances between 300m and 77km. There is something for everyone.
Riders line up at the Chifley for the start of the 2012 ICME
Stage One of the ICME kicked off today, with a mixture of talent in the approximately 200 strong field. last years victor Andy Blair (Swell-Redshift) is in attendance, as are a whole host of younger talent, mostly from the Torq Team. Riders like Billy Sewell, Robby Hucker and Jack Haig and Sarah Holmes. This mornings stage was 31km, with a $200 KOM prime put on a climb above the railway cutting. Once the curiously slow police escort out of town was clear, it was a case of keeping the pace moderate if not strung out. With sand before the climb, it’s easy enough to put some riders in difficulty if their sand experience isn’t as high.
Blair took the KOM, clear of Haig and his team mates. This strong group of four rode clear, and a second group behind eventually formed. It was mostly ones and twos at this point, with the ability to ride the loose surfaces a distinct advantage.
Blair talks to Haig post race.
Unfortunately for Subaru-MarathonMTB.com Racer Nick Both, he suffered two flats. This area is harsh on tyres and bikes – and limbs if you’re unlucky and hit the deck.
Naomi Hansen, happy to finish after a rather hectic run up to the 2012 ICME
The front group was together until the train line – Blair was lucky and got a small gap here, which he was able to maintain until the finish on the Alice Springs velodrome. He was closely followed by Robbie Hucker and Jack Haig. Melissa Anset took the womens win from Terry Rhodes and Subaru-MarathonMTB.com’s Naomi Hansen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=488gagYU6ZU&feature=youtu.be
Finishing on the velodrome is a nice touch. It’s a good location to have a feed, and see people hit the bankings as they come in for a lap and sprint the people they’ve been racing with on the trails. Next up, it’s the Hill Climb TT up Anzac Hill this evening. Hope you all packed your skin suits!
Full results will be available on the Rapid Ascent ICME website.