Huge field at RaboPlus South Island Cross Country Cup

The first round of the NZCT South Island Cross Country Cup as part of the Raboplus MTB Cup series presented by Nature Valley was held in Dunedin today, in partnership with the Otago Peninsula Challenge.

Over 370 bikers took up the Challenge, riding a 43km point to point race over the length of the Peninsula, starting at Smails Beach and finishing on Tairoa Head. A short course option was also on offer, which was also the start for the competing walkers and runners – combined entries resulting in over 700 competitors.

Local competitors enter the race in large numbers, as it is a unique, once a year opportunity to access the area, which crosses 10 private properties. Mountain bike Olympian Kashi Leuchs enjoyed racing in his home town but was not racing competitively, instead enjoying the stunning Peninsula scenery. 70 of the competitors took the race more seriously while racing for the South Island Cup, and will now go on to compete in two further rounds in Timaru and Queenstown.

In the Elite Men Category, Brendon Sharratt (Christchurch) lead from the beginning, tackling the challenging course with included several large climbs smoothly, crossing the finish line in 1 hour, 56 minutes and 54 seconds. Ash Hough (Tauranga) was not far behind and placed second, with Jon Richardson (Dunedin) coming a close third, crossing the line just two seconds after Hough. Brad Tilby (Auckland) who came in 10 seconds behind Richardson said ‘there was a good group of us riding at the same pace, in the end it came down to a battle of attrition from the climbs and extreme winds but Brendon was ahead right from the start’.

One of the riders who kept up with this tight group of Elite Men was young ripper Anton Cooper (Christchurch), and at just 14 years old that is a spectacular achievement. Cooper was the fifth fastest rider of the day completing the race in an astounding 2 hours and 22 seconds, only three and a half minutes behind Sharratt. Cooper said ‘I did well in the first climb and enjoyed riding with the Elite riders, it was tough to hang on but it is my favourite point to point race and I am stoked with my result’. Cooper aspires to make the World Champs MTB team and hopes to one day race in the Olympics.

Elite Women riders also had a tough competition on their hands with the top three only five minutes apart on the finish. Jeanette Gerrie (Christchurch) clocked in at 2 hours, 18 minutes and 36 seconds taking first. Local ladies Sara McDonald placed second with Erin Green close behind in third. McDonald said ‘it was a very good race, it was so close and exhilarating’.

The next round in the NZCT South Island Cross Country Cup is held in Timaru’s Centennial Park next weekend in partnership with the X-Scenic Race.

Results - South Island Cross Country Cup Round 1 – Dunedin

Elite Men

1 Brendon Sharratt, Christchurch, 1:56:54; 2 Ash Hough, Tauranga, 1:59:36; 3 Jon Richardson, Dunedin, 1:59:38.

Elite Women

1 Jeannette Gerrie, Christchurch, 2:18:36; 2 Sara MacDonald, Dunedin, 2:19:43; 3 Erin Greene, Dunedin, 2:23:52.

Full Results available at www.bikenz.org.nz/mtbcups