Monday, 26 July 2010

Local riders selected in formidable

Aussie lineup for world champs

Five local Canberra mountain bike riders will be amongst a formidable 38-strong Australian team at the 2010 UCI World Mountain Bike Championships in Canada this August.

Reigning world champion Caroline Buchanana of Kambah will be out to defend her world title but first will represent Australia at the BMX World Championships in South Africa in July before making her way to Canada in August.

The 19-year-old was awarded 2009 Australian Elite Female BMX Cyclist of the year and 2009 Australian Elite Female mountain bike cyclist of the year.

Monash Brother and sister duo Ben and Rebecca Henderson have had some consistent results in Australia and Europe so far this year which resulted in team selection.

Twenty three-year-old Ben will be making his second world championships appearance riding in the elite men cross country event, after competing at the 2009 UCI World Championships in Canberra, finishing 35th in front of a 30,000 strong home crowd.

Ben placed second overall in the 2010 Australian series over the summer.

Earlier this year, Rebecca, 19 conquered at the U23 Oceania Championships in New Zealand and placed first overall in the U23 category of 2010 Australian mountain bike series.

Former-adventure racer Heather Logie of O’Connor only made the switch to the sport in October last year, an Achilles injury forcing her to stop running, ultimately leading her to throw all of her energy into riding.

The 31-year-old, who won the silver medal at the 2010 Australian Championships, will compete in the women’s elite cross country event.

The under-23 women’s cross country event will feature Yarralumla’s Gracie Elvin. Elvin hopes to improve her 10th position finish from last year’s world championships held in Canberra.

The 21-year-old won the 2009 Australian Championships, with her sights now set on representing Australia at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

The championships, to be held from August 31 to September 5 in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada, will celebrate twenty years of international mountain biking.

Australia played host to the mountain bike world championships in 2009 and in what was Australia’s most successful campaign in history, Jared Graves and Caroline Buchanan took advantage of the home course and raucous crowd in Canberra to secure the coveted rainbow jersey. A silver medal for Shaun O’Connor (junior men’s downhill) and bronze for Michael Hannah (men’s downhill) and Holly Baarspul (junior women’s downhill) capping off the nation’s impressive performance.

Graves will ride into the 2010 championships as the raging favourite, dominating the elite men’s four cross event over the past two years. The 27-year-old is on track for back-to-back UCI World Cup titles, securing three out of four possible wins and a 175 point lead over his closest rival, Tomas Slavik (CZE), at the half way point of the season.

Buchanan’s preparations will take a different path, balancing training between both her mountain bike and BMX commitments. The 19-year-old will represent Australia at the BMX World Championships in South Africa in July before making her way to Canada in August.

Two-time world downhill champion Samuel Hill (2006 and 2007) will also don the green and gold, the 24-year-old joining five teammates in the men’s elite downhill competition, including O’Connor who makes the transition to the open competition.

Four cross rider Randall Huntington will be Australia’s oldest competitor, turning 40 during the championships. At the other end of the scale, Troy Brosnan will compete in the junior men’s downhill aged just 17.

Mountain Bike Australia (MTBA) high performance manager Chris Clarke, said he was confident the squad will deliver some great results.

“This is a very competitive team across the board, led by our two reigning world champions Caroline Buchanan and Jared Graves,” Clarke said.

“We have a good mix of riders who have the experience and know what it takes to compete, and win, on the world stage, and those who will benefit greatly from the experience of these leaders and the international competition.”

MTBA President Russ Baker congratulated the members of the Australian mountain bike team.

"On behalf of the MTBA Management Committee, I congratulate all riders selected to represent Australia at the 2010 UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships,” Baker said.

“To be selected to represent your country is a great honour, and we will all be eagerly watching your achievements."

2010 UCI World Mountain Bike Championships - Australian Team

Cross Country

Cross Country (XCO) – Elite Men

Andrew Blair (NSW)

Lachlan Norris (VIC)

Ben Henderson (ACT)

Daniel McConnell (VIC)

Cross Country (XCO) - Under 23 Men

Cal Britten (VIC)

Paul van der Ploeg (VIC)

Cross Country (XCO) - Junior Men

Kyle Ward (NSW)

Mitchell Codner (NSW)

Trenton Day (NSW)

Cameron Ivory (NSW)

Cross Country (XCO) – Elite Women

Rowena Fry (TAS)

Heather Logie (ACT)

Kate Potter (NSW)

Katherine O’Shea (VIC)

Cross Country (XCO) - Under 23 Women

Gracie Elvin (ACT)

Therese Rhodes (SA)

Rebecca Henderson (ACT)

Four Cross

4-Cross (4X) – Elite Men

Richard Levinson (QLD)

David Habicht (VIC)

Jared Graves (QLD)

Randall Huntington (QLD)

4-Cross (4X) – Elite Women

Caroline Buchanan (ACT)

Sarsha Huntington (QLD)

Downhill

Downhill (DHI) – Elite Men

Shaun O'Connor (NSW)

Bryn Atkinson (NSW)

Mitchell Delfs (WA)

Michael Hannah (QLD)

Samuel Hill (WA)

Chris Kovarik (QLD)

Downhill (DHI) - Junior Men

Troy Brosnan (SA)

Ayden Wyber (VIC)

Phillip Piazza (NSW)

Antony Moore (QLD)

Downhill (DHI) - Junior Women

Holly Baarspul (WA)

Emily Hockey (SA)

Trials

Trials 26" – Elite Men

Joe Brewer (VIC)

Andrew Dickey (VIC)

Nathan Mummery (VIC)

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Laura Rathgeber - Jump Media and Marketing

03 9500 0122 or admin@jumpmedia.com.au