LIMBC kicked off this morning with a short 2.4km ITT around Eagle Square/Legenda park in what could be considered ‘ideal’ Malaysian conditions, cloud cover, a slight breeze and no rain. The riders were reverse seeded based on their previous racing accomplishments and subsequent UCI ranking, with the Senior Masters leading the charge at 1000. Riders were ranked, called up and set off at 30s intervals from the scenic Eagle Square near Kuah, Langkawi: Senior Masters, Masters, Men Elite and then Womens open.
Naomi Hansen (Subaru-MarathonMTB.com) rails the roots in the LIMBC Prologue. Photo: Andrew Davison
The course was “fast and fun” according to third placed female Nathalie Schneitter (Colnago Sudtirol) and her team mate Eva Lechner concurred with an “enjoyable and fast” winning ride. The course was an urban assault meets tropical roots cyclocross style course with the obligatory spattering of Malaysian mud. Never having done a cyclocross race, I am relying on the expertise of Nathalie Schneitter for this analogy. In the end, the course was enjoyed immensely by most riders with a techy rooty section in the first third of the course making it a very exciting spectator race. It is hard to imagine that in the space of 2.4km you can crash twice (Cory Wallace; Kona) and get a flat tire (Adelheid Morath; Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro team).
Nathalie Schneitter third place women in Prologue at LIMBC 2013
Maxime Marrote (BH Bruntour KMC) cleaned up the Mens Elite category in a stomping 00:05:02.868 with Eva Lechner (Colnago Sudtitrol) hot on his heals 00:05:36:889. In the Super Masters Mads Bodker (Davinci Specialized) smashed out 00:5:49.022 and in Masters Marzio Deho (Cicli Olympia) 00:05:25.923.
Other Australians: Craig Peacock (Chase Racing Team) placed 4th in Senior Masters 00:06:31.122 Andrew davison (Subaru-MarathonMTB.com) placed 9th in Masters 00:06:41.7 Mark Mcinnes (PCL) placed 7th in Masters 00:06:07 Richard Ben Hendy placed 12th in Masters 00:06:53 Naomi Hansen (Subaru-MarathonMTB.com) placed 13th in Women Elite 00:06:38.
Tomorrow is another relaxed 10:00am start with a 65km round island (XCM) from Legenda Park. The Colnago girls are predicting a fast start so time to hang on and hope!