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Minnaar Breaks Aussie Hearts with final run
Sunday, August 31, 2008
South African downhiller Greg Minnaar broke the hearts of local fans twice in one day, pipping Australian Nathan Rennie on the final run, and also grabbing the lead of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup at Canberra’s Mt Stromlo.
Rennie had the crowd in a frenzy with his dashing 2min46.02second descent of Mt Stromlo – only to have his teammate Minnaar eclipse his time by 4.68seconds on the final run of the day. World champion Britain’s Gee Atherton was third, with Perth’s Sam Hill surrendering his World Cup lead with a disappointing 11th place.
“The Springboks stopped the Australians in the rugby last night and I did again today,” said Minnaar. “I’m sorry to rub it in – but it’s great to win and get the World Cup lead.
Gold Coast’s Rennie looked like he might have snatched the win, with two riders to run on the 2.2km course. His chances improved when Brit Steve Peat nearly crashed within sight of the finish.
“I was feeling pretty confident at that point,” said Rennie, a former World Cup champion. “I knew Greg was strong, but when I saw Steve stack it, I knew I was up there with a good chance.
“In the end – he had it on the day. I had a really solid run until the finish straight – but the last part of the track was so heavy, my legs were killing me. I could barely get over the final jump,” he added.
Over 9,000 spectators turned out on a cold and wet day to watch the event, where riders descend a mountain littered with jumps, tight bends and boulders – racing against the clock.
Early morning rain, doused the track, and the further showers through out the day, made the final 500 metres a steely test of strength for the tiring riders.
Minnaar laid the foundations for his victory with a smooth run through the technical top section of the course, employing some superior fitness to gain the winning edge through final sloppy mud.
“I knew I to put it together to win today,” said Minnaar, who has now notched up three World Cup wins for the season. “I tried to conserve my energy at the top of the course and when I got down I just stepped on the gas.”
Minnaar’s win elevates him to the top of the World Cup standings with a narrow lead over Australia’s reigning World Cup champion Hill. Atherton lies third and Peat fourth. Rennie’s second place takes him to seventh. The final round takes place in Austria in two weeks.
WOMEN’S DOWN HILL
Power pedaling, an ‘uncool’ body suit and some inside knowledge have boosted Britain’s Tracey Moseley to victory in the women’s UCI World Cup downhill.
Moseley conquered the 2.2km wet and sticky decent from Mount Stromlo, beating world champion and fellow countrywoman Rachel Atherton by 4.08seconds, with French former world champion Sabrina Jonnier a further 4.23 seconds behind in third. The best placed Australian was Carolyn Buchanan in 13th position 30.42seconds off the pace.
Mosley later attributed the narrowest of victories to the wearing of a tight body hugging skin suit – scorned by other women riders for being “totally uncool” in the mountain bike world.
“I always get shit for wearing this suit – it doesn’t look cool – but I know wearing it makes a difference,” said 28-year-old Moseley.
Atherton was not convinced the suit would make a difference.
“It’s a bit of a touchy subject,” said 20 year old Atherton. “ If you ask any of the girls you don’t see them busting out skin suits, because that’s not what we feel like doing.
“If you win, we want it to be on skill and training and stuff like that. Fair enough to Tracey, if she wants to do that to win. But for the sport and the longevity of the sport to wear cool race kit and to make an image for yourself is more important than the odd win here and there.”
Looking for extra hundredths of a second, Moseley also reduced her tyre pressure today to gain better traction in the rocky and wet conditions. And a reconnaissance mission on the Canberra course, when she competed and won at the Australian National titles, also aided her victory over Atherton who leads the pointscore.
“One of the reason’s I came in January was to check out the track for this round and the world championships next year,” said Atherton. “Winning on this track in January gave me a lot confidence for today.”
Moseley was the most consistent performers over the course. She won the semifinals in 3mins.06.99, but was unable to improve her finals time (3min10.43secs), due to steady rain leaving standing water on the course, and turning the sandy soil on the sections to sticky mud.
She attacked the top with power and finesse, giving her the vital speed to carry over the many lower jumps and drops. When the course leveled out, she had the strength to drive her way through the slop to the line.
“The wet weather made the course tricker. The first rocks were good, but it got very slippery. The grip was better than I thought – but the spring to the finish was brutal. The bottom was the most horrendous slog I’ve ever done.”
Atherton continues to lead the world cup standings from Jonnier, with Moseley third.
Aussies blitz Four Cross field
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Australia’s top mountain bike riders have blitzed the international field overnight at Canberra’s Stromlo Forest Park, in a chilly night time final held under lights. Canberra’s own Caroline Buchanan has managed to secure her first World Cup podium, after storming to the finish on her home turf leading Anneke Beerten of the Netherlands into the finish area, with Julia Boer of Hungary coming home in third place.
The men’s four cross saw a clean Aussie podium sweep with Olympian Jarred Graves taking gold, followed by best mate Sam Willoughby taking silver, with Graves’s, Olympic cohort Luke Madill taking bronze. To cap of the clean sweep compatriot Hubert Thomas of Newcastle joining his mates at the finish area in fourth.
Wet weather conditions unfortunately took its toll on Australia’s other women’s medal hopeful Sarsha Huntington, who crashed in the earlier heats resulting in a knee injury.
Swiss Olympic spare turns tables on teammates in UCI Mountain Bike World Cup at Canberra's Mt Stromlo
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Swiss Olympic spare Ralph Naef has turned the tables on his teammates claiming victory in the men’s UCI World Cup X-Country event at Canberra’s Mt Stromlo today.
The win was Naef’s first World Cup podium in a tumultuous season, that included illness, broken toes, marriage, a third place in the World Championships and eventual relegation from the Swiss Olympic team for Beijing.
Naef held off Spain’s Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos, with Canada’s Geoff Kabush third. The top ranked Australian was Chris Jongewaard in 10th position.
Earlier in the day pint sized Russian powerhouse Irina Kalentieva blitzed the women’s field to capture her second X-Country World Cup win of the season.
The former world champion and Beijing bronze medallist controlled the race leading home New Zealand’s Rosara Joseph by 53 seconds, with Canada’s Catherine Pendrel third a further six seconds behind. Czech Tereza Hurikova was fourth.
Queensland’s Jodie Willett was the best placed Australian in seventh place, eight minutes off the pace, with Victorian Katherine O’Shea eighth (11m:15secs behind) and New South Wales’ Zoe King ninth (11m:37second).
Naef’s victory had the precision planning typical of the Swiss. Early in the race he was part of a seven man group that cleverly worked to gain a break from the main 40 man field.
In a see sawing battle, the technically strong climbers swapped the lead with the fast descenders, until on lap three Naef secured what turned out to be the winning break.
In his wake Swiss Olympians Florian Vogel and Nino Schurter, Spaniard Hermida Ramos, Italian Marco Fontana, American Todd Wells, South African Burry Stander were swapping places.
On narrow track, with limited overtaking opportunities, Hermida, Naef’s teammate, focused on controlling the chasing group. This allowed a fast finishing Kabush into podium contention, whilst the technical course started taking a toll on the riders and machinery.
“It’s definitely made my season to win a World Cup,” said Naef, whose team spent much of the week familiarizing themselves with the venue that will also stage next year’s World Championships.
“I was only the spare for the Olympics and I wanted to do well.”
Naef’s homework paid dividends, with the Swiss rider determined to get out front early.
“I just always wanted to go out in front onto the single track because I knew the other riders would get tired and make mistakes.
“It’s the best track I have ever ridden because it’s very technical. You have to go your own speed. If you make mistakes you lose seconds.”
After today’s race Naef moves up the World Cup rankings to 18th, Kabush jumps to second behind Frenchman and Canberra absentee Julien Absalon. Hermida lies sixth.
Kalentieva’s victory elevates her to eighth on the World Cup pointscore after eight rounds, behind Canada’s Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Olympic champion Marie-Helene Premont. Canada’s Pendrel lies second with one round remaining in Austria next month.
Kalentieva said she started the race conservatively to feel out her opposition, and when no one took up the challenge she took the lead and pushed all the way to the finish.
“I felt like it was my day today,” said the 31-year-old, who stands a mere 155cm tall. “I felt good, the weather was good, the course was good.
“At the start I began easy. I wanted to wait. I didn’t know what the opposition was going to do. After the first lap on the downhill I rode better, I had a gap and then I was pushing all the time, then I saw the saw the gap increasing and I thought I can win the race.”
With the Russian dominating the field, the real race was for the minor placings with Pendrel, Joseph and Czech Tereza Hurikova just seconds apart. In a strategic move Joseph secured second place with a barnstorming final lap finally overtaking Pendrel at the food station.
“I was very surprised that I did so well,” said the 26-year-old Kiwi. “I was feeling bad after the Olympics and all the travel. I was on the verge of being sick all week so I was just hoping to have a good finish.
“The start wasn’t as hard or fast as I thought and that helped me settle into the race,” said Joseph who secured her first ever World Cup Podium finish, after an eighth place in Beijing.
Pendrel conceded the flatter sections of the course were her undoing.
“Rosara passed me at the feed zone but it was a real yo-yo between the three of us in the last lap,” said Pendrel.
“The technical climb was really hard, but where I lost the most time was the flat, rough feed zone. I will have to work on this weakness,” added the Canadian who will be back on the same course for the UCI Mountain World Championships in September 2009.
Top Ten results
Women Cross-Country OD
- Irina Kalentieva (RUS)
- Rosara Joseph (NZL)
- Catherine Pendrel (CAN)
- Tereza Hurikova (CZE)
- Mary McConneloug (USA)
- Blaza Klemencic (SLO)
- Jodie Willett (AUS)
- Katherine O’Shea (AUS)
- Zoe King (AUS)
- Joanna Wall (AUS)
Men’s Cross Country OD
- 1 Ralph Naef (SUI)
- Jose Antonio Ramos Hermida (SPA)
- Geoff Kabush (CAN)
- Florian Vogel (SUI)
- Todd Wells (USA)
- Burry Stander (RSA)
- Roel Paulissen (BEL)
- Nino Schurter (SUI)
- Marco Aurelio Fontana (ITA)
- Chris Jongewaard (AUS)
Australia's Olympians looking for change of fortunes
Friday, August 29, 2008
Olympian Jared Graves is hoping it will be third time lucky when he seeks victory in the weekend’s (August 30-31) UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Four Cross (4X) at Canberra’s t Stromlo Forrest Park.
In Beijing Graves missed out on Olympic BMX glory when a South African rider crashed, taking the Aussie and any chance of a medal with him. The Toowoomba based rider was also unceremoniously bumped out in the final of the World 4X Championships in Italy.
“Beijing was a little bit of déjà vu,” said Graves. “But I’ve had runs of good luck and runs of bad luck and you can’t dwell on it. You’ve just got to move on.
“I know I can win any race I enter, but I haven’t had my day of winning the big races yet.”
Four cross is one of three mountain bike disciplines being contested at Mt Stromlo, with downhill and X-Country races also being staged over the newly configured World Cup courses.
Over 280 domestic and international cyclists will contest the event, many fresh from Beijing.
Elite racing action gets underway at 9am on Saturday with training for the big guns of the downhill, ahead of the women’s X- Country at 11am and the men’s X-Country at 2pm. The action continues into the evening with live entertainment ahead of the four cross finals (4X) held under-lights at 8pm.
Sunday’s racing will see the semi-finals of the World Cup downhill at 10.30am followed by best local short track Cross Country riders. At 2.30pm the world’s best downhill riders take on the mountain for the finals.
Graves is not the only Olympian looking for some redemption in the 4X. Sydney’s Luke Madill is also seeking a victory to erase the some tough Olympic memories.
The reigning Australian 4X champion, who famously built a replica of the Olympic BMX course in his “backyard,” had his dream of a Beijing Games medal shattered when he was outed after the first round of the BMX event.
Unlike BMX, 4X involves only four riders in a 450m downhill duel over jumps, traps and break neck berms and corners.
However with Graves predicting that the 4X course would suit the BMX riders, all may not be lost.
“I think some of the strong BMX riders will do really well here,” predicted Graves, who won his last World Cup 4X outing in Fort Williams Scotland in May.
“The first straight is long and pedally, and really suits BMX riders. The course is also smooth like a BMX circuit.
“Luke Madill’s going to be tough to beat, and Sam Willoughby (South Australia), who’s the junior world champion, will also do really well,” added Graves, who lies 13th on the World Cup standings.
The Australians main international opposition will come from Spanish World Champion Rafael Alvarez De Lara Lucas, who also heads the World Cup standings, Germany’s creative Guido Tschugg and perennial American Brian Lopes – who boasts six World Cup titles and four World Championships.
Australia is also seeking a medal in the women’s 4X with Canberra school girl Caroline Buchanan looking a strong chance for a podium finish, and Beijing BMXer Tanya Bailey also in the hunt.
Australian 4X champion, Buchanan is hoping some inside knowledge of Canberra’s infamous weather and plenty of time on her “home” track might improve her chances of a podium finish.
“I think the cold weather here could catch some of the riders by surprise,” said Buchan. “I’m not sure if the riders from the other countries will be prepared for the cold.
“I think being a local and getting out on this track all time – gives me some more knowledge about the best lines to take in all weather conditions,” the 17-year-old added.
Australia is also a strong medal chance in the men’s downhill – with Perth’s two time world champion Sam Hill leading the World Cup standings. Hill has a narrow 128 point lead over Britain’s reigning world champion Gee Atherton, and will be looking for a win claim the his third World Cup title and the physiological high ground head of next year’s world championships on the same course.
However the 2.3km event is not a two horse race with Australian Nathan Rennie, Jared Rando and Chris Kovarik eager to make their mark.
In the men’s X-Country event all eyes will be watching the ever popular Geoff Kabush (Can) with his trade mark sideburns and Olympic Bronze medallist and under 23 World Champion Nino Schurter . The technical nature of Stromlo will provide New Zealander Kashi Leuchs with his chance to shine on the world stage.
The absence of four time world champion, Absalon will leave the World Cup wide open, but the Kabush, Schurter and Leuchs are all bound to be tested on the new course, which features the tortuous Cardiac Climb and sobering Cadaver Corner.
The women’s field will be will be one of the hottest on record with Olympic Bronze Medallist Russia’s Irina Kalentieva, tackling Four time world champion Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) on the comeback trail will also be keen to bounce back from her disappointing Olympic campaign.
Australia’s hopes in X-Country rest with Theresa Rhodes, Joanna Wall and Zoe King and Olympian Daniel McConnell and Chris Jongewaard.
World Cup Mountain Bike racing heads to Canberra’s Mt Stromlo
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Two time world downhill champion Sam Hill, Olympian Jared Graves and Australian 4X champion Caroline Buchanan spearhead the local challenge when World Cup mountain bike racing heads Down Under to Canberra’s Mt Stromlo Forest Park this weekend (August 30-31).
Over 80 Australians and a world class international contingent of over 200 will contest the three mountain bike disciplines: downhill, X-Country and 4X, in the penultimate round of the UCI World Cup.
Elite racing action gets underway at 9am on Saturday with training for the big guns of the downhill, ahead of the women’s X- Country at 11am and the men’s X-Country at 2pm. The action continues into the evening with live entertainment ahead of the four cross finals (4X) held under-lights at 8pm.
Sunday’s racing will see the semi-finals of the World Cup downhill at 10.30am followed by best local short track Cross Country riders. At 2.30pm the world’s best downhill riders take on the mountain for the finals.
The event is the first time Mt Stromlo has staged a World Cup round, with Canberra’s cool climate and technical reconfigured courses bound to test the skills and skins of athletes.
The event also offers Australian stars the chance to shine at home, at the venue which also hosts next year’s UCI Mountain Bike World Championships (September 1-6,2009).
However if two time world downhill champion, and the current World Cup frontrunner , Aussie Sam Hill was looking for some assistance from the course designers – he will be disappointed.
The Perth rider confessed today the 2.3km course, with its flatter lower sections would favour the power pedallers, including Aussie rivals Nathan Rennie and Chris Kovarik, and internationals Steve Peat (GBR) and Greg Minnaar (RSA).
“It’s going to be pretty difficult, because there’s a lot of pedalling and it’s a smaller mountain than I’m used to,” said 23 year old Hill. “It’s not going to be as easy to generate speed, so it will favour the powerful peddlers who can carry their speed and momentum into the lowers section of the course.
“However I’m going to give it my best shot,” added Hill, who missed out on a world title hat-trick after crashing in Italy.
Hill’s track record on this layout is also not great, with the 23-year-old crashing the last time he raced at the venue for the Australian Championships in 2007.
He will also need all his renown ‘line’ reading skills to hold off, Britain’s Gee Atherton, who is looking to add the World Cup trophy to his newly acquired World Championship title. Only 128 points separate the two on the World Cup point score with a maximum of 500 points on offer over the final two rounds.
The men’s and women’s downhill will be contested over a 2.3km course which starts at the Mount Stromlo Observatory and winds down through a testing series of natural and man-made jumps, berms and kamikaze like corners. Taking less than three minutes to complete – success and survival depend upon a rider’s technique, power and ability to suppress fear.
Rennie is using the Stromlo race as a make or break for his season. Currently 10th, the former World Cup champion has been plagued by a knee injury all season.
“I’ve only had one podium finish this season, so I want to make amends for it here,” said the Gold Coaster who will have surgery at the end of the season.
Unlike Hill, twenty-eight-year old Rennie is relishing the prospect of a power trip in the lower end of the course. “If you don’t carry speed into the finish straight, you’ve got a really hard task in front of you,” predicted Rennie.
“But because this course is so short you’ve got to get every bit right. The top riders are only separated by a millisecond on some of the longer (World Cup) courses, to the racing is going to be even closer here.”
Other Australians in action include local hero’s Jared Rando and Ben Cory, along with Joanna Fox and Jane Rutter-Randall.
In the 4X Aussie Olympic BMX aces Jared Graves and Luke Madill will be looking for redemption when they line up for their first outing post Beijing at the World Cup 4X on Saturday night.
26-year-old Graves finished 6th in Beijing after being taken out in the final, but is back in the saddle for the 4X, as is Sydney’s Madill whose Olympic campaign ended in the quarter stages . Although not in the hunt for the World Cup title, Aussie 4X champion Madill and Graves will be eager to disrupt the ambitions of others.
Their main opposition will come from Spanish World Champion Rafael Alvarez De Lara Lucas, who also heads the World Cup standings, Germany’s creative Guido Tschugg and perennial American Brian Lopes – who boasts six World Cup titles and four World Championships.
Unlike BMX, 4X involves only four riders in a 450m downhill duel over jumps, traps and break neck berms and corners.
The women’s 4X race will be no less hotly contested with Aussies Olympian Tania Bailey (BMX) and current champion Carolyn Buchan eager to stamp their authority on the course ahead of next year’s World Championships also at Stromlo. Buchanan lies seventh in the standings behind Dutchwoman Annke Beerton.
All eyes will be watching the ever popular Geoff Kabush (Can) with his trade mark sideburns and Olympic Bronze medallist and under 23 World Champion Nino Schurter . The technical nature of Stromlo will provide New Zealander Kashi Leuchs with his chance to shine on the world stage in the men’s X-Country event.
Headline Music Act Announced
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Resin Dogs has been announced as the headline music act for the Nissan UCI Mountain Bike World Cup.
Mixing live music, turntables and guest MC's, Resin Dogs produce a mash up of sounds including modern Hip-Hop drenched with breakbeat, dance hall, dub and funk. In the revolutionary spirit of hip hop they have created their own style. With MC's and live players this is an experience not to be missed.
Jump to the sounds of live music from 1800 on Saturday 30 August. The Resin Dogs set will kick off at around 1900.
Also announced as part of the Saturday live music entertainment are local Canberra DJs Dave Scully, Jamie and Bo Percival.
Canberra CBD World Cup Promo Crit
Thursday, August 21, 2008
22 AUGUST 2008 - Mountain Bikes to descend upon Canberra’s City Centre for twilight battle
Be in Garema Place on Friday 22 August for the Canberra CBD Crit – a free evening event to promote the upcoming 2008 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup.
The World Cup event organisers will deliver all the action and racing of next weekend’s event, straight to Canberra’s city centre, with a sensational demo event to take place at Garema Place.
A short course urban style criterium will take place right on the city streets with riders hitting a 500m circuit to complete up to six laps.
Join us for this exciting event – either as a spectator or a rider.
For spectators:
The evening will be action packed, with music and exciting mountain bike racing under lights. Event entry is FREE.
The event is taking place in front of the big screen in Garema Place. It will be a night to remember. Hope to see you all there!
For riders:
The event is open to all riders (there is even a children’s race). Entry to the race is FREE, so come out and showcase our wonderful sport to the Canberra public. Entries will be taken on the day.
With special guests, sponsors and media present, we need an overwhelming amount of riders swarming the city in a night of fun and celebration.
Event Schedule:
1715 Course Open/ Registration Open/ Event Introduction
1745 U13 Kids Race
1800 C Grade Race
1815 Sponsors/Media Relay
1830 B Grade Race
1845 World Cup presentation/ Course re-open for practice session
1855 Women Race
1910 A Grade Race
Volunteer Update
Monday, August 18, 2008
The volunteer briefing sessions will be held as follows; Tuesday August 19th at 6pm, Eastlake Football Club 3 Oxley St Griffith.
Or
Tuesday August 19th at 7.30pm, Eastlake Football Club 3 Oxley St Griffith For Interstate Volunteers, Friday August 29th 2008 at 7pm Volunteer Head Quarters World Cup Event Village, Stromlo Forest Park.
Successful UCI Visit to Mt Stromlo World Championships Sites
Friday, May 9, 2008
Senior mountain biking delegates of the International Cycling Union (UCI) conducted a visit to Canberra from 7 to 10 December for discussion with the Canberra Off-Road Cyclists (CORC) Organising Committee and to inspect progress on the courses at Mt Stromlo, Stromlo Forest Park and the event support facilities in Canberra.
The UCI delegation was led by Melanie Leveau, UCI Mountain Bike Events Coordinator and comprised Beat Wabel (UCI Cross Country Technical Delegate) and Helen Mortimer (UCI Downhill and 4X Technical Delegate). The Canberra Off-Road Cyclists Organising Committee team for the visit was led by Club President Anthony Burton, with Event Bid Coordinator Russ Baker, Cross Country Race Director John Graydon, Downhill Race Director Dave McKinlay and 4X Race Director Jeff Hughes. Mountain Bike Australia (MTBA) Executive Officer Tony Scott was present for the visit and MTBA President Gillian Duncan visited Stromlo Forest Park on Sunday Afternoon.
The Downhill and 4X events of the Brindabella Challenge allowed the UCI delegation to see the Stromlo Forest Park courses in action. Canberra Downhill rider and current National Downhill Elite Women series leader Claire Whiteman took Helen Mortimer (a former downhill World Cup racer) on two runs of the Stromlo Downhill course – two runs which had Helen wanting to register for the race!
All the courses received a very positive reaction from the delegation, with only some minor course adjustments needed on the Downhill and 4X courses. Work is continuing on the courses, plus the event facilities at Stromlo Forest Park, but the large open nature of Stromlo Forest Park and Canberra's extensive accommodation, transport and support infrastructure are viewed as considerable advantages by the UCI.
"It's a very good venue," stated Melanie Leveau, "It's very wide and open so we have many options for the tracks and the set up of the village. We still have to decide where to put what, but we have many options and that's the most important thing."
"There are a few things we're going to change on the downhill course", said Mortimer, appraising the track, "We're looking to put in some tricky drop offs and bigger jumps as well – to meet the standards of the world's best. Already there's been huge amounts of work put in with the 4X and the downhill tracks. The bobcat will be up there digging and putting some strategic rocks in place. It looks to be pretty good once it's finished."
Mortimer recognises the advantages of hosting lead-up events at Stromlo, like the MTBA National Mountain Bike Championships on 24-28 January 2008, and the value of feedback from those taking part in them. "You've got quite a few races out here so it'll be good to get some of the riders' input as well. Australian riders are some of the world's best and it will be good to get some of their feedback once the new sections get put in."
At the conclusion of the visit, CORC President Anthony Burton said that, "It was a really successful visit and we are in great shape to pull together a fantastic couple of weekends of mountain biking. The delegates have been there and done it all before and everything they had to say was pretty positive".
Background
In November 2005, CORC submitted a bid to hold the UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships in Canberra. The UCI sent a delegation to inspect the Canberra site in May 2006 and in January 2007 CORC was announced as the successful host for the 2009 UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships. The UCI subsequently asked CORC to host a round of the 2008 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup. CORC readily accepted this offer as it provides an excellent leadup opportunity to fine-tune the organisation and Stromlo Forest Park prior to the 2009 World Championships.
The December 2007 visit to CORC was the second by a UCI delegation.
CORC will be staging two world level events at Stromlo Forest Park for the UCI in 2008 and 2009.
- Round 6 of the 2008 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup will take place on the weekend of 30/31 August 2008.
- The 2009 UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships will take place from 1 to 6 September 2009.
The UCI World Cup round in August 2008 will be the centrepiece of a 2 week mountain biking festival with an 8 hour teams race on 24 August, the ACT Schools Mountain Bike Championships on 27/28 August and another competitive race on the weekend following the World Cup. These competitive races will be interspersed with instructional and recreational rides in some of the ACT's iconic mountain bike areas such as Majura Pines and Sparrow Hill. The 2008 ACT Schools Mountain Bike championships, which is open to any Australian Secondary School, will provide a great opportunity for the country's up and coming mountain bike riders to race on a similar course to the world's best riders, and then watch those riders in action a few days later.
The World Champion for Downhill mountain biking is currently an Australian, Sam Hill (WA). Australia also has several prominent men and women mountain bike racers in Downhill and 4X, plus an up-and-coming junior field in cross country.
Web photos of the UCI visit can be found at http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lematelot56/UCI_Visit_Dec07
High quality images for printing can be obtained by emailing Russell Baker
Contacts
Anthony Burton
President
0434 612 011
Russell Baker
Event Bid Coordinator
0408 407 946
Kimberlee Philip
Sponsorship and Marketing
0405 675 583
Nissan UCI Mountain Bike World Cup on YouTube
Thursday, April 17, 2008
By tuning into YouTube, you can now discover the highlights as well as a glimpse backstage of the Nissan UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano
The channel, called “ucimtb”, provides a report in images of each day of competition as well as interviews, short personality profiles and interesting details and anecdotes that set the World Cup apart.
Don’t hesitate to visit: www.youtube.com