National Champs: Day Four

Day Four of the Subaru MTBA Australian National MTB Championships rolled around and even though there were plenty of tired people, there were five elite titles still to be decided, plus many other champions to be crowned.

Check out our previous coverage too: 

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

It was an early start at Mystic MTB Park, with Elite men and women  doing their Eliminator (XCE) time trials from 8:30am, as 26 inch Obersveed Trials qualifications took place, along with Junior men’s short track (XCC). It was a busy morning.

The Elite XCE heats started at midday, and it was newly crowned U23 XCO champion Em Parkes who capitalised on all the gains and improvements she’s made in the past 12 months to win ahead of Bec Henderson and Peta Mullens.

There were many more heats in the men’s Eliminator as more than 8 riders went through (which is how many ladies went to the finals). It shouldn’t be too surprising that Paul van der Ploeg came out on top, but U23 racer Tristan Ward put in a great sprint against PVDP but came out with silver. Cam Ivory crossed the line for 3rd.

Hannah and Brosnan repeat 2014

All eyes turned up hill for the downhill finals in the afternoon. Once age groups had raced, the Juniors were on course. Over the days of practice, what is a hard packed course for much of the year has turned to moon dust. Where a good line will be one day, a new hole is the next. Ruts are growing as you watch, and there are a number of riders sporting slings walking around the pits. It’s tough up on the hill.

Ellie Wale secured 1st in Junior women, in a time that would have placed her 6th in Elite women. The Junior en had a much bigger field, and Andrew Crimmins stormed home in 4.04.78 – good enough for 5th in Elite men.

Tracey Hannah showed her class with a big lead ahead of Claire Buchar, and Tegan Molloy. Molloy is U19 World Champ, and looks to be on the way to building the skills and strength to climb the elite ranks.

“I’m pretty happy with my form going in to the season,” Hannah said in her post-race interview. “No matter what race it is I kind of push myself and I saw yesterday that I had a pretty good gap up my sleeve so I wanted to see how far I could really push it.”

The elite results could have been predicted, but really it was still an open race, especially in the men’s with the pressure that Connor Fearon especially is putting on Troy Brosnan. After lots of changes in the hot seat, Troy Brosnan took the championships in 3:56:76, edging ahead of Connor Fearon and Dean Lucas.

“It feels amazing,” Brosnan said after securing the win. “I’ve done a lot of training and it was great to see it pay off. I just got out of those trees, put my head down to that finish line and sprinted as hard as I could.”

“It’s a massive honour,” he added when asked about gaining the National Series jersey. “Ever since I was a little junior racing these National Rounds, I wanted to have the sleeve. To get it again is just awesome and I’ll be able to wear it for the whole World Cup Series.”

Observed Trials Finals

The finals of the 26 inch Observed Trials wowed spectators further, with Andrew Dickey (VIC) fearlessly attacking the obstacles and securing the crown.

It was a Victorian podium in the end, as Nathan Mummery (VIC) scored second and Lachlan Sens (VIC) took third.

Full results can be found on mtb.subaru.com.au

We’re wrapping up the summer of racing, and lots to do with going fast, and the people who do it, in our next issue. It’s out on April 6th. If you subscribe soon, you’ll be one of the first to get it.