Gold for AJ in middle distance

Wednesday, 27 August 2008

Adrian Jackson (AJ) won the middle distance race narrowly from Dane Soren Strunge and Czech Lubomir Tomacek.  AJ was about 1 minute faster at the 30% mark of the course and held this until the radio check point about 10 minutes from the finish.  In the last few check points he made a few small mistakes, but held on to a 26 second margin at the finish.

Mel Simpson also rode a fantastic race in her first WOC to come 16th.  She was 9th at the radio check point but made a 3 minute mistake two check points from the end.

The rest of the team had varied results, getting caught out in the intricate and bumpy Polish terrain.  Cath, Jen and Thor all finished within a whisker of each other in consecutive places.  Alex rode fast but two mistakes pushed him out of the top 10 into 21st position.  Dave and Paul had scrappy rides to finish in 60th and 50th.

Tomorrow (today as you read this) is the qualification race for the long final, followed by a rest day which we're all looking forward to.

Click the thumbnail below to view the men's middle distance course.