Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

Specialized Australian MTB Championships 2011 preview

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Parent Category: Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

Category: News Cycling Pro Road & Mtb 2011

Published on Monday, 07 February 2011 18:58

Written by Luca Salvatelli

The nation’s fastest and most skilled mountain bike riders are set to make their way to Eagle Mountain Bike Park in Adelaide this month with the national crown and $50,000 in prize money and giveaways in sight.

The 2011 Specialized Australian Mountain Bike Championships to be held from Tuesday 22nd to Saturday 26th of February boasts an impressive lineup of riders across all mountain biking disciplines - cross country, downhill, 4X, trials and dirt jumps.

Headlining the stellar cast is men’s downhill world champion Sam Hill (WA) and local world junior downhill champion Troy Brosnan (SA) who will don the coveted rainbow jersey as they tackle the fast and thrilling Eagle Park terrain.

The men’s elite downhill on Saturday, 26 February will be one of the most tightly fought contests of the championships, with defending champion Chris Kovarik (QLD), 2006 world championships bronze medallist Nathan Rennie (QLD), Mitch Delfs (WA), Shaun O’Connor (NSW) and current national series leader Rick Boyer (NSW) amongst those in the hunt for the national title.

All local eyes will be on young gun Troy Brosnan in the under 19 downhill event. After taking out the junior title at the 2010 world championships in Canada at just 17 years of age, Brosnan has a promising future ahead of him.

The 2011 Specialized Australian MTB Championships will provide the perfect preparation as Brosnan looks to defend his title at this year’s world championships to be held in Switzerland.

With the 2012 London Olympics just around the corner, much of the attention will focus on the cross country races taking place on Friday 25 February.

Four-time national champion Chris Jonegwaard (SA) has returned to the elite scene in promising form, and will battle for gold alongside Beijing Olympian and reigning national champion Dan McConnell (VIC), Lachlan Norris (VIC), Ben Henderson (ACT) and current national series leader Aiden Lefmann.

In the women’s category, under 23 local rider Terri Rhodes (SA) will compete along with defending national cross country champion Rowena Fry (TAS).

The 2011 Specialized Australian Mountain Bike Championships captures the same great atmosphere as last year but with exciting new track changes. The courses are more exciting and challenging than ever and spectator access enhanced.

Major sponsor Specialized will once again be on site with ‘Test the Best’, allowing riders and spectators the fantastic opportunity to test over 40 off road and road bikes during the event.

Specialized Australian MTB Championships – Event Schedule

Tuesday 22 – Wednesday 23 February 2011

Practice sessions

Team relay (Wednesday from 12.30pm)

Thursday 24 February 2011

9:30am Cross Country – veteran women

10:00am Cross Country – sport, masters, super masters, U17 and U15 women

12:00pm Cross Country – U17 men

12:30pm Cross Country – U15, masters, super masters and grand super masters men

2:30pm Cross Country – sport men A

3:00pm Cross Country – sport men B

3:30pm 4X seeding

5:30pm 4X finals

Friday 25 February 2011

9:30am Cross Country – elite women

10.00am Cross Country – U23 and U19 women

Bike Trials final - open

12:30pm Cross Country – elite men

1:00pm Cross Country – U23 men

4.00pm Cross Country – U19 men

4:30pm Cross Country – veteran, expert men

Saturday 26 February 2011

10:00am Short Course Cross Country – Sport men

10:30am Short Course Cross Country – U19

11:00am Short Course Cross Country – open women

Downhill – U17, U15, Expert, Masters, Veterans and Sport men, U17, U15, Veterans, Masters, Sport and Super Masters women

11:30am Short Course Cross Country – elite men

12:00am Dirt Jumps final

4.00pm Downhill – Elite Men, Elite Women, U19 Men, U19 Women