THREDBO Friday 23rd March
UCI Oceania Mountain Bike Championships rate high in Thredbo
The UCI Oceania Championships in Threbo, New South Wales gets underway officially with the Mountain Cross this evening.
The absence of Australia’s National Champion, Luke Madill, and Jared Graves who are aiming for BMX Olympic selection allows for pure mountain bikers to fight it out. Close rivalry is expected between National Series winner, Terrance Scarr (Raby, NSW) and Luke Strom (East Blaxland, NSW) along with our highest placed rider at the World Championships ,Alex Lloyd (St Clair, NSW. The absence of last year’s Oceania winner, John Kirkcaldi from New Zealand leaves an opening for Wyn Masters, the silver medallist at their national championships to retain the title for New Zealand.
The women’s event features National Champion, Caroline Buchanan (Canberra). At only 16 years of age Buchanan is expected to take on the likes of New Zealand’s Scarlett Hagen, Jennifer Makgill and Amy Laird.
Downhill – Saturday & Sunday
Saturday’s racing lays claim to the World’s best downhill riders competing in a seeding run on the ski slopes of Thredbo. With Australia ranked as one of the best countries in the world, the Oceania’s has attracted World Champion, Sam Hill (Perth,WA)) and the bronze medallist Nathan Rennie (Gold Coast,QLD) coming head to head with the best New Zealand riders. The 2006 World Junior Champion, Cameron Cole from New Zealand now has to mix it with his seniors and will be out to prove his second in elite at the New Zealand Nationals recently was well deserved. The Downhill final run will be the final event on Sunday afternoon with riders expected to reach speeds in excess of 60 km per hour.
Reigning World Junior Downhill Champion, Tracey Hannah (Cairns, QLD) will compete against New Zealand's Scarlett Hagan in a bid to reverse placings and win after placing fifth and fourth last year. Australian National Series winner Claire Whiteman (Canberra, ACT) will pursue a top ride to assist her selection for the World Champioinships in Fort William, Scotland.
Olympic Cross Country - Sunday
All eyes will be on the potential Olympians when racing gets underway Sunday morning in the elite women’s cross country. Australia boasts National Champion, Tory Thomas (Mt Beauty, VIC) who has dominated in the Olympic distance events and marathon distance this season. Thomas however will have her work cut out for her with New Zealand’s World-ranked Rosara Joseph. Joseph placed 10th at the World Championships last September and is also looking to back up her win at last year’s Oceania’s in Rotorua. European based, Kate Potter will also be a hot favourite for Australia after winning on this course at the last National Series event held last December.
Australia is hoping for a clean sweep of the podium in the men’s race with Athens Olympian, Sid Taberlay (Hobart,TAS) competing against his Commonwealth Games teammate, Chris Jongewaard (Adelaide, SA) and other riders with good form such as Dylan Cooper (Canberra, ACT) and Daniel McConnell (Gippsland, VIC). New Zealander, Clinton Avery could be out to switch last year's placings with Shaun Lewis (Adelaide) in the Under 23 division .
For Olympic Cross Coutnry riders such as Sid Taberlay, Chris Jongewaard, Tory Thomas and Kate Potter who head overseas soon to compete in World Cup events, these points will help them get a top grid positions.
According to the CEO of Mountain Bike Australia, Tony Scott, this is invaluable when they line up at these World Cups. “They can gain a higher start grid position, which in this discipline could mean 1 or 2 laps of avoiding less able riders,” explained Scott.
The Oceania points are valuable on a national scale as well. “They all add to the Australian National ranking which is used to define the number of riders each nation can place on the XCO Olympic start line,” said Scott.
Scott said, "The 2007 Oceania Mountain Bike Championships in Thredbo are the most fleshed out in recent history. It is held in conjunction with an innovative program of events in one of Australia's premier mountain bike destinations."
For more information, FEED details, PHOTOS and INTERVIEWS.
Regards
Sharon Payne
Media Manager
Mountain Bike Australia
UCI Oceania Mountain Bike Championships rate high in Thredbo
The UCI Oceania Championships in Threbo, New South Wales gets underway officially with the Mountain Cross this evening.
The absence of Australia’s National Champion, Luke Madill, and Jared Graves who are aiming for BMX Olympic selection allows for pure mountain bikers to fight it out. Close rivalry is expected between National Series winner, Terrance Scarr (Raby, NSW) and Luke Strom (East Blaxland, NSW) along with our highest placed rider at the World Championships ,Alex Lloyd (St Clair, NSW. The absence of last year’s Oceania winner, John Kirkcaldi from New Zealand leaves an opening for Wyn Masters, the silver medallist at their national championships to retain the title for New Zealand.
The women’s event features National Champion, Caroline Buchanan (Canberra). At only 16 years of age Buchanan is expected to take on the likes of New Zealand’s Scarlett Hagen, Jennifer Makgill and Amy Laird.
Downhill – Saturday & Sunday
Saturday’s racing lays claim to the World’s best downhill riders competing in a seeding run on the ski slopes of Thredbo. With Australia ranked as one of the best countries in the world, the Oceania’s has attracted World Champion, Sam Hill (Perth,WA)) and the bronze medallist Nathan Rennie (Gold Coast,QLD) coming head to head with the best New Zealand riders. The 2006 World Junior Champion, Cameron Cole from New Zealand now has to mix it with his seniors and will be out to prove his second in elite at the New Zealand Nationals recently was well deserved. The Downhill final run will be the final event on Sunday afternoon with riders expected to reach speeds in excess of 60 km per hour.
Reigning World Junior Downhill Champion, Tracey Hannah (Cairns, QLD) will compete against New Zealand's Scarlett Hagan in a bid to reverse placings and win after placing fifth and fourth last year. Australian National Series winner Claire Whiteman (Canberra, ACT) will pursue a top ride to assist her selection for the World Champioinships in Fort William, Scotland.
Olympic Cross Country - Sunday
All eyes will be on the potential Olympians when racing gets underway Sunday morning in the elite women’s cross country. Australia boasts National Champion, Tory Thomas (Mt Beauty, VIC) who has dominated in the Olympic distance events and marathon distance this season. Thomas however will have her work cut out for her with New Zealand’s World-ranked Rosara Joseph. Joseph placed 10th at the World Championships last September and is also looking to back up her win at last year’s Oceania’s in Rotorua. European based, Kate Potter will also be a hot favourite for Australia after winning on this course at the last National Series event held last December.
Australia is hoping for a clean sweep of the podium in the men’s race with Athens Olympian, Sid Taberlay (Hobart,TAS) competing against his Commonwealth Games teammate, Chris Jongewaard (Adelaide, SA) and other riders with good form such as Dylan Cooper (Canberra, ACT) and Daniel McConnell (Gippsland, VIC). New Zealander, Clinton Avery could be out to switch last year's placings with Shaun Lewis (Adelaide) in the Under 23 division .
For Olympic Cross Coutnry riders such as Sid Taberlay, Chris Jongewaard, Tory Thomas and Kate Potter who head overseas soon to compete in World Cup events, these points will help them get a top grid positions.
According to the CEO of Mountain Bike Australia, Tony Scott, this is invaluable when they line up at these World Cups. “They can gain a higher start grid position, which in this discipline could mean 1 or 2 laps of avoiding less able riders,” explained Scott.
The Oceania points are valuable on a national scale as well. “They all add to the Australian National ranking which is used to define the number of riders each nation can place on the XCO Olympic start line,” said Scott.
Scott said, "The 2007 Oceania Mountain Bike Championships in Thredbo are the most fleshed out in recent history. It is held in conjunction with an innovative program of events in one of Australia's premier mountain bike destinations."
For more information, FEED details, PHOTOS and INTERVIEWS.
Regards
Sharon Payne
Media Manager
Mountain Bike Australia
