The long way down
The longest day of the BMC Mountains To Beach tested even the strongest riders. The Verofit Big Day Out was, as race leader Andrew Blair put it, “132km of hard work”.
First was the 90 km race stage from Cooma racecourse to the end of the Wadbilliga National Park. Once there, riders then had a 42 km cruise stage, via Cobargo, to Bermagui.
This course covered everything from mountain plains down through rainforests where the tree ferns towered over the riders, through to farmland and ocean views.
It certainly tested every rider but didn’t find many wanting, with only three riders withdrawing during the course of the day.
The stage leaders – Andrew Blair, Jason English and Nicolas Menager finished the race in just under 3 ½ hours, with Naomi Hansen the first woman across the line in 4:15:49.
Heather Evans and Belinda Porter were a further 22 and 41 minutes behind.
The results see a change to the standings in the Solo Men’s Open category. Andrew Blair still retains first place with an overall time of 7:55:58, but Jason English has now overtaken Dennis Van Mill and is 3 minutes 27 seconds behind Blair. Van Mill is now 7 minutes behind Blair with just one day remaining.
The Solo Women’s Open placing remains unchanged from Wednesday, with Naomi Hansen having a seemingly unassailable lead of 47 minutes 44 seconds over Heather Evans. Belinda Porter is over 2 hours behind the leader.
While the Women’s category seems pre-determined, the Men’s is still anyone’s. What will happen today is anyone’s guess, but it’s certain to be a race for the finish between the top three male riders.
Today is the final stage of the BMC Mountains To Beach. The ‘short’ 45km Ground Effect Surf Safari from Bermagui to Narooma. Starting with a 10km single track ride through the Bermagui Mountain Bike Park, the riders then follow the coast as close as possible, covering headlands, behind beaches and on beaches themselves, before arriving at the Narooma Surf Club for the finish.
Full details of all stages can be found on www.wildhorizons.com.au
For additional information on the BMC Mountains To Beach please contact
Beverley Atkins - 0408 697 795 : media@in-sync.com.au
Stage 8 – The Verofit Big Day Out
Category Place Competitor Time
Solo Men Open (18-39) 1st Andrew Blair 3:22:15
Solo Men Open (18-39) 2nd Jason English 3:23:59
Solo Men Open (18-39) 3rd Nicolas Menager 3:24:00
Solo Women Open (18-39) 1st Naomi Hansen 4:15:49
Solo Women Open (18-39) 2nd Heather Evans 4:38:33
Solo Women Open (18-39) 3rd Belinda Porter 4:59:39
Solo Men Masters (40-49) 1st Tim Jamieson 3:53:04
Solo Men Masters (40-49) 2nd Rodney Hart 3:55:41
Solo Men Masters (40-49) 3rd Eric Dole 3:59:04
Solo Women Masters (40-49) 1st Jenny Caldwell 5:14:49
Solo Women Masters (40-49) 2nd Gaye Camm 5:24:39
Solo Women Masters (40-49) 3rd Heidi Healy 6:17:42
Solo Men Supermasters (50+) 1st Roger Cull 3:56:05
Solo Men Supermasters (50+) 2nd William Dove 4:10:39
Solo Men Supermasters (50+) 3rd Peter Hansen 4:14:44
BMC Mountains To Beach Overall Standings
Category Place Competitor Time
General Classification
Solo Men Open (18-39) 1st Andrew Blair 7:55:58
Solo Men Open (18-39) 2nd Jason English 0:03:27
Solo Men Open (18-39) 3rd Jason English 0:04:09
General Classification
Solo Women Open (18-39) 1st Naomi Hansen 9:57:16
Solo Women Open (18-39) 2nd Heather Evans 0:47:44
Solo Women Open (18-39) 3rd Belinda Porter 1:47:14
General Classification
Solo Men Masters (40-49) 1st Tim Jamieson 9:11:00
Solo Men Masters (40-49) 2nd Rodney Hart 0:06:10
Solo Men Masters (40-49) 3rd Eric Dole 0:17:21
General Classification
Solo Women Masters (40-49) 1st Gaye Camm 12:40:46
Solo Women Masters (40-49) 2nd Jenny Caldwell 0:43:50
Solo Women Masters (40-49 3rd Bronwyn Markham 2:12:54
General Classification
Solo Men Supermasters (50+) 1st Roger Cull 9:21:20
Solo Men Supermasters (50+) 2nd William Dove 0:31:56
Solo Men Supermasters (50+) 3rd Peter Hansen 0:50:57
The longest day of the BMC Mountains To Beach tested even the strongest riders. The Verofit Big Day Out was, as race leader Andrew Blair put it, “132km of hard work”.
First was the 90 km race stage from Cooma racecourse to the end of the Wadbilliga National Park. Once there, riders then had a 42 km cruise stage, via Cobargo, to Bermagui.
This course covered everything from mountain plains down through rainforests where the tree ferns towered over the riders, through to farmland and ocean views.
It certainly tested every rider but didn’t find many wanting, with only three riders withdrawing during the course of the day.
The stage leaders – Andrew Blair, Jason English and Nicolas Menager finished the race in just under 3 ½ hours, with Naomi Hansen the first woman across the line in 4:15:49.
Heather Evans and Belinda Porter were a further 22 and 41 minutes behind.
The results see a change to the standings in the Solo Men’s Open category. Andrew Blair still retains first place with an overall time of 7:55:58, but Jason English has now overtaken Dennis Van Mill and is 3 minutes 27 seconds behind Blair. Van Mill is now 7 minutes behind Blair with just one day remaining.
The Solo Women’s Open placing remains unchanged from Wednesday, with Naomi Hansen having a seemingly unassailable lead of 47 minutes 44 seconds over Heather Evans. Belinda Porter is over 2 hours behind the leader.
While the Women’s category seems pre-determined, the Men’s is still anyone’s. What will happen today is anyone’s guess, but it’s certain to be a race for the finish between the top three male riders.
Today is the final stage of the BMC Mountains To Beach. The ‘short’ 45km Ground Effect Surf Safari from Bermagui to Narooma. Starting with a 10km single track ride through the Bermagui Mountain Bike Park, the riders then follow the coast as close as possible, covering headlands, behind beaches and on beaches themselves, before arriving at the Narooma Surf Club for the finish.
Full details of all stages can be found on www.wildhorizons.com.au
For additional information on the BMC Mountains To Beach please contact
Beverley Atkins - 0408 697 795 : media@in-sync.com.au
Stage 8 – The Verofit Big Day Out
Category Place Competitor Time
Solo Men Open (18-39) 1st Andrew Blair 3:22:15
Solo Men Open (18-39) 2nd Jason English 3:23:59
Solo Men Open (18-39) 3rd Nicolas Menager 3:24:00
Solo Women Open (18-39) 1st Naomi Hansen 4:15:49
Solo Women Open (18-39) 2nd Heather Evans 4:38:33
Solo Women Open (18-39) 3rd Belinda Porter 4:59:39
Solo Men Masters (40-49) 1st Tim Jamieson 3:53:04
Solo Men Masters (40-49) 2nd Rodney Hart 3:55:41
Solo Men Masters (40-49) 3rd Eric Dole 3:59:04
Solo Women Masters (40-49) 1st Jenny Caldwell 5:14:49
Solo Women Masters (40-49) 2nd Gaye Camm 5:24:39
Solo Women Masters (40-49) 3rd Heidi Healy 6:17:42
Solo Men Supermasters (50+) 1st Roger Cull 3:56:05
Solo Men Supermasters (50+) 2nd William Dove 4:10:39
Solo Men Supermasters (50+) 3rd Peter Hansen 4:14:44
BMC Mountains To Beach Overall Standings
Category Place Competitor Time
General Classification
Solo Men Open (18-39) 1st Andrew Blair 7:55:58
Solo Men Open (18-39) 2nd Jason English 0:03:27
Solo Men Open (18-39) 3rd Jason English 0:04:09
General Classification
Solo Women Open (18-39) 1st Naomi Hansen 9:57:16
Solo Women Open (18-39) 2nd Heather Evans 0:47:44
Solo Women Open (18-39) 3rd Belinda Porter 1:47:14
General Classification
Solo Men Masters (40-49) 1st Tim Jamieson 9:11:00
Solo Men Masters (40-49) 2nd Rodney Hart 0:06:10
Solo Men Masters (40-49) 3rd Eric Dole 0:17:21
General Classification
Solo Women Masters (40-49) 1st Gaye Camm 12:40:46
Solo Women Masters (40-49) 2nd Jenny Caldwell 0:43:50
Solo Women Masters (40-49 3rd Bronwyn Markham 2:12:54
General Classification
Solo Men Supermasters (50+) 1st Roger Cull 9:21:20
Solo Men Supermasters (50+) 2nd William Dove 0:31:56
Solo Men Supermasters (50+) 3rd Peter Hansen 0:50:57
