Round 4 of the SHIMANO MTB GP Series was held at Stromlo Forest Park in Canberra on Saturday, 15 August. A brisk winter morning in Canberra turned into a brilliantly sunny day and riders from all over NSW and the ACT enjoyed the four and seven hour competitions on the 10km-race course set out. In the 4-hour event, Sydney’s Briony Mattocks and Andrew Lloyd from Newcastle took out the overall solo wins with the Novocastrian increasing his series lead in the men’s.
Mattocks finished 8 laps strongly in 4:33.08 ahead of fellow Sydney-rider Wendy Stevenson (-1 lap) and Kim Smith from Wright (-1 lap).
Local riders from Canberra had the home advantage and turned up in good numbers with the ONYA Bike Canberra pairs team of Lewy Cressy and Bradley Morton winning the four hour race overall. Local racer Ed McDonald dominated the men’s solo field, even taking out the line-honours with most laps completed right on the seven hour mark: 14 laps in 7:00.46.
Meg Gillmer from Sydney claimed her first seven-hour race win with 10 laps in 6:53.16. With Melinda Holmes (3rd in women’s solo GC) and Charlie McCabe two Central Coast racers are taking over the women’s general classifications in the seven and four hour series rankings.
Riders line-up at sign-on in front of the spectacular Stromlo surrounds in Canberra.
Race start at Stromlo Forest Park for Round 4 of the SHIMANO MTB Grand Prix Series – 4 and 7 hour riders head out onto the 10km circuit.Meg Gillmer – first 7-hour race solo, first race GC race win at the SHIMANO MTB GP!Ed McDonald, the smooth local racer takes advantage of knowing every corner of his home track – takes outright GP7 Hour race win at the Shimano MTB Grand Prix Round 4 at Stromlo Forest Park.Andrew Lloyd increased his series lead in the 4H GC of the SHIMANO MTB GP at Stromlo – two Rounds to go!Briony Mattocks, the Sydney XC-whippet makes all the right moves at Stromlo to win the women’s solo general classification (GC) at Round 4!A focused Charlie McCabe races consistently to grab enough points to take over the women’s solo GC series lead in the 4H competition!Melinda Holmes – joins fellow Central Coast rider Charlie McCabe as women’s series leader! She now heads up the 7H GC solo women’s ranking with two rounds to go!
Impressions from the race – all images by OuterImage.com.au
Briony Mattocks and Meredith Quinlan from Sydney looking forward to hitting the Stromlo trails. Rocky Trail picked some of the favourite sections!Paul from FlowBikes.com.au – heading up the Mondraker racing team together with Anton and supporting Rocky Trail racers with technical support throughout the year.Gloryfy – the unbreakable glasses “Made in Austria” are protecting Rocky Trail racers and making them look good too!Alice King and Ben Cirulis – winning MIxed Pair in the GP7H.Perfect hand-over in between laps by the Over Yonder Team by Alice King and Ben Cirulis. That’s how it’s done!Race director Martin Wisata from Rocky Trail with MC and racing crew member, Paul “Crafty” Craft.Our biggest rewards – smiling #rockytrailracers at the start and finish lines!Winners are grinners – Rocky Trail’s SHIMANO MTB GP gives you sponsor goodies before the race and if you pick the right ticket, you have the chance for a major prize – here are our winners of the SHIMANO wheel-set and a Magellan Cyclo 500 device.
