News and views from the team

Friday, 7 July 2006

With regular internet connection the team is now into full blogging mode.  Read on for blogs from the team members.

Getting to the Start Line

With WOC fast approaching it seems that things are getting a little more chaotic. Paul’s demons have once again done a decent job of trying to stop him from getting to the start line with a broken rear swing arm in the last few days and today in a unlikely incident I managed to run into a another go-kart at the moment it was airborne, negating the kart’s guarding and battering my leg instead. Unfortunately it also meant my track time was cut short which was a pity as it was the first time in the last few weeks that I’ve been faster than AJ and Alex.

The leg is pretty sore and slightly swollen but doesn’t appear to have done any joint or muscular damage so I have my fingers crossed that things will be fine. It would be very disappointing not to be able to ride after doing the training and having experienced the anticipation leading up the event. Paul spent half of yesterday formulating back-up plan on back-up plan so he has a suitable bike to ride and to put his mind at rest. So at the moment I plan to keep the ice up and spent time resting. Given that the leg will be right soon at least this means I will be well rested by the time the event starts and eager to get out there.

Dave Simpfendorfer

My Trip so Far

I have been having a fantastic trip so far. I arrived in England on the 18th June and after waiting 2 hours in the passport control line in Heathrow found my relatives waiting outside the terminal. It was hard to train in that first week as I was having so much fun with my cousins and aunt and uncle, though I found some time and went on some rides through an area south on London called the south downs.

It was good meeting up with the team in Lahti and getting to train in some more technical and relevant areas. AJ, Alex and I also ran a club foot o event near Lahti. It was a very different area to what I have run in Australia, lots of negative contours and large areas of depression.

We have been in Joensuu from Sunday night and are trying to make the most of the technical maps and areas we have available to us for training. I’m getting much more confident and consistent in some on the harder maps. Unfortunately there have been some problems and bad luck so far for the team, though we should be able to overcome most of them by the start of the weekend and competitions. Hopefully everyone can perform well.

Steve Cusworth

Relay Fun

On probably the only ‘typical’ Finnish area of the training maps we decided to hold a 2-person relay. Having done exactly the same type of exercise with the entire Finnish team a week ago (on the same map, which is posted below) I knew that it was a great area for flat-out racing. I also undertook the course-setting to avoid control sites I had already visited before. The area itself is quite small, and is between 2 small creeks. It has, however, enough crossing points for good route-choice and leg setting. For flat-out riding the scale needs to be at 1:5000! There were a lot of small tracks connecting between the main ones which added to the demands of both route-choice and navigation. The format was that each rider in the team rode the same loop consecutively, then did the same with the second loop. We didn’t have enough teams to split the loops so it was effectively a mass start. Teams were as follows: Alex + David, Steve + Darvo, and Adrian + Carolyn.

The start for the Finnish relay was a flat out sprint, however the Australian one comprised a leisurely placing of maps into the board followed by a convoluted route to the start triangle. Steve showed a clean pair of heels to Carolyn and Dave, building a 3min lead on the first leg. Dave and Carolyn were within 30sec, meaning AJ and I were pitted almost neck and neck. Paul (using Steve’s bike) conceded a bit over 2 min on the borrowed bike, which meant the battle for first was open again. I held the gap to AJ so it was tight for the second loop. This was the shorter of the two, which meant time would be harder to pick up. Steve once again blasted free of the rest, and the 3min gap was back. Dave had almost pegged Carolyn back, but missed the last control and had to go back for it. I had a job in front of me, and roared out for the second loop. This time I lost about 15 sec twice, and fell back a little, and the gap proved too big for AJ to bridge. The results were:

1st: Steve + Darvo

2nd: (2min back) AJ + Carolyn

3rd: (further 30 sec back) Alex + Dave

Fastest times for the loops were about 10min for the first and 8 min for the second.

Good news in the constructors championships was that Scott took out all podium places!!

Alex Randall

 
Anna Sheldon wins Silver at European Champs! Friday, 1 September 2006 After a long campaign in Europe at the foot orienteering world champs and student world champs, Anna Sheldon swapped her running shoes for bike shoes and has won silver in the first race of the European Champs
Life after WOC Wednesday, 19 July 2006 Most of the team is back in Australia after an intensive campaign in Europe.
Latest World Rankings - Adrian Jackson #1 Tuesday, 18 July 2006 Latest world rankings released.
Relays. Some days are better than otters Saturday, 15 July 2006 In a somewhat increadible turn of events Australia did not finish the relay with all riders in the 4th placed first team disqualified for mis-punching.
No gifts at the long distance race Saturday, 15 July 2006 Riders encountered a very tough long distance race with winning times about 25% longer than the upper limit recommended.
Maps and Routes now available online Thursday, 13 July 2006 Maps and Routes now available online
Adrian's Middle Race Tuesday, 11 July 2006 Read Adrian's report of his middle race
WOC Middle distance - spaghetti on a map Monday, 10 July 2006 The Aussies rode well at the WOC middle distance today in very detailed terrain near Joensuu.
Long Distance Qualification - Report Sunday, 9 July 2006 Comments from PD following the Long Qualification race.
WOC Eve Sunday, 9 July 2006 The final sleep before the racing starts.
Preview - Long Distance Qualification Race Saturday, 8 July 2006 Course stats and terrain notes for Long Qualification race
News and views from the team Friday, 7 July 2006 With regular internet connection the team is now into full blogging mode. Read on for blogs from the team members.
Please don't make me laugh Thursday, 6 July 2006 An update from Carolyn Jackson with less than a week to go before competition starts.
Cottonwool needed? Thursday, 6 July 2006 Relaxing can be, it seems, more dangerous than racing for the team.
Joensuu - final WOC training Thursday, 6 July 2006 The team is now in Joeunsuu the WOC city for final training before the start of races this weekend.
Finland - the team comes together Saturday, 1 July 2006 The team came together on Tuesday this week for the beginning of the final training for WOC.
Initial Impressions of MTBO in Europe Tuesday, 27 June 2006
Mazovia Cup - from the forest Monday, 26 June 2006 Two days of hot racing on sandy and often very indistinct tracks was the theme for the Mazovia cup this weekend
More on storks Monday, 26 June 2006
Results: Czech Champs Monday, 26 June 2006 Results from Czech Champs. Adrian competing.
Mazovia Cup - Poland Sunday, 25 June 2006 Results and brief comments after day 1 of Mazovia Cup
Of storks and stuff Wednesday, 21 June 2006 Poland has 80% of Europe's population of storks
Results: Polish Champs Wednesday, 21 June 2006 Results now available online
Rider Down but Not Out? Tuesday, 20 June 2006 Carolyn Jackson crashes and breaks 2 ribs in training accident
Kiwi speed Monday, 19 June 2006 Marquita Gelderman wins the Polish Champs with a clean sweep of the women's races.
Polish Champs in 2008 World Champs Terrain Sunday, 18 June 2006 This years Polish Champs are only a short distance from the areas which will be used for the 2008 World MTBO Champs in Poland.
Greetings from sunny Finland Monday, 12 June 2006 In the weekends WRE races Adrian finished 8th and 1st, while Alex was 12th and 21st
Fillari Cup, Finland - Preliminary results Sunday, 11 June 2006 Alex and Adrian start their WOC campaign at the Fillari cup in western Finland
The Blog is back!! Thursday, 8 June 2006 The Blog is back!
Final training camp Sunday, 4 June 2006 The team met in Bendigo and Maryborough for a final training camp before the world champs in Finland.
More CABC pictures Tuesday, 30 May 2006 A few more pictures to give a taste of what it's like riding in the CABC at Alice Springs
WOC Team Training Camp Tuesday, 30 May 2006 The OZMTBO WOC team is having a final training camp in Bendigo and Maryborough this weekend.
Finnish Maps Saturday, 27 May 2006 A quick intro to the terrain and maps of MTBO WOC 2006
Australian Team Jerseys Saturday, 27 May 2006 The new team jerseys have been released for 2006, keeping a link with the OZMTBO-Scott jerseys recently produced and previous team wear.
Central Australia Bike Challenge Thursday, 25 May 2006 CABC
MTBO Commission Bulletin - New Rule Thursday, 25 May 2006 MTBO Commission Bulletin
Change to 2006 WRE schedule Thursday, 25 May 2006 Change to 2006 WRE schedule
Training Camp Tuesday, 23 May 2006 WOC Team training camp
Team for Finland 2006 Wednesday, 12 April 2006 team annouced