Race Report: Brenton Jones

This year, the Oceania MTB Championships were held in Dunedin, New Zealand where riders mostly from Australia and New Zealand all compete to be crowned the Oceania champion. The Dunedin venue provided a variety of terrain with most riders comparing this year’s track with some of the best in Europe. The weather held off and it saw 4 fine days of low 20 degree temperatures to accompany the variety of events.

With the Cross-Country on Saturday, I along with the rest of the Australian XC contingent were all preparing for a big day of racing. The practice days saw many gain new ideas and new lines as the track provided everyone with a big drawing board. The days prior to the race were as usual with many riders choosing to relax, get lots of sleep and prepare bikes! Although not certain of the unpredictable weather which could change conditions at any stage, I was confident that my Continental Race King 2.2 Tyres would get the job done. These tyres provide the ultimate traction in a variety of conditions and they were my number one choice for this occasion. To get my GT Zaskar Pro MTB ready, I made sure I double checked all nuts, bolts, and cables to ensure all were 100%. Thankfully, all was ok and the morning of race day saw a relaxed yet focused attitude take place. With a pre-roll taken place 4hrs before race start, a good breakfast and a clean Torq Nutrition Kit, I was ready to race. At the venue, many riders were seen to be on their own preparing for the 2hr painful race. On the start line, we gathered together with everyone waiting for the countdown. 3 minutes….2 minutes….1 minute….30 seconds…..15 seconds….Horn, we were off and away with a furious start as always. Lachlan Norris lead the way for the start and I was near the back as to be expected starting from the last row. Like previous elite race which consist of 6 or 7 laps, I find it critical to save your energy. It has worked in the past and today, this was what I had planned for. Going up the first major fire trail climb, everyone was spread out with many different race tactics unfolding. I had a consistent first lap and was positioned mid field in the elite category. During the second lap I again held my position in the elite field but managed to make up a few at the same time. After the major climbs and fast descents, I felt strong like always but for some reason was not overly convinced that today was going to be a good race for me. Despite the confusion in my head I was persuading myself to dig deep and keep the legs spinning. Although not the best climber and/or build to be a climber, my current form was pretty good and hence I was climbing better than ever before. This in turn helped me to keep motivated and push harder throughout the track, descent and ascents. The start of the third lap saw s few more positions gained as I crept through the field ever so slowly. My plan was working and my lap times were very consistent. The forth lap provided a perfect opportunity to see the finish line and picture myself crossing it in two laps time! This again enabled motivation to increase and kept my spirits alive by smashing every piece of the track, determined to finish home strong. On the 5^th lap I felt as though I was going to cramp on a few occasions but luckily it was not the case. My arms were starting to feel the pump as well but I knew there was only 1 lap to go! Coming round for the bell, I received a fresh drink bottle and a Torq Gel from Mum and then like the previous laps, back into the pine Forrest to complete the lap. During the last lap I could see fellow riders struggling to maintain pace and this inspired me to finish on my fastest lap and make up a few places. This turned out to be the case as I made up another position on my way to 12^th place outright in Elite and 4^th place in the U23 category. I was very pleased with the achievement being a first year U23/Elite rider and can now see the improvement taking place within myself. I would like to thank my mum especially for the massive support she provided me and the other Aussie guys throughout the weekend. Also to the rest of my family who all support me time and time again. Last but not least, my sponsors, Torq Nutrition Australia (thanks Gen and Dean), and the many sponsors accompanying us. It is a pleasure to be associated with you all. I look forward to the next race and hope to see some familiar faces.