Insider: Reef to Reef – Stage 1 – Smithfield MTB Park

What a ride! If the Prologue course for Reef to Reef is the benchmark of what we can expect for the next 3 days, then we are really in for a treat.

Words: Anthony Shippard

Photography: Tim Bardsley-Smith

Today’s 20km Prologue was at Smithfield MTB park and used many of the features from the World Cup XC course (Jacobs Ladder anyone?!). With two extremely steep and gruelling climbs, riders were pushed (sometimes literally) to their limits before being rewarded with some amazing twisty, turny, berm-laced trails that wound their way through the rainforest like a ribbon.

Any lack of concentration would be punished – as even the most benign trail feature could cause trouble. The Cyclist team of Mike Cameron and Anthony Shippard were travelling very well, until such a moment struck them down, a badly landed ‘double’ jump saw a snapped seatpost for Shippard. Disaster, but they pushed on (after 5mins or so resolving the issue).

Brendan Johnstone and Jon Odams took the win overall, with the only time of the day under an hour. 2nd place on the day went to the first masters team – Total Rush (Rohin Adams and Brad Clark). 3rd over the line was the mixed pair of Samara Sheppard and Kyle Ward. That’s right – The overall 3rd place was a mixed team, and yes – the podium for the overall had 3 categories represented. The female team win was taken by Briony Mattocks and Anna Beck.

Tomorrow sees the teams leave the rainforests of costal Cairns to head inland to the Davies Creek MTB park – reputed to be fast, fun and real Aussie bushland. We cant wait!

This race has kicked off to a great start, and we are certainly keen to keep the good times rolling!

Reef to Reef 2018 – Results Team GC

Pos Cat Name Time Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4
1 Men Jon ODAMS (100-2) 0:59:40 00:59:40
2 Men Brendan JOHNSTON (100-1) 0:59:40 00:59:40
3 Masters Rohin ADAMS (144-1) 1:03:14 01:03:14
Pos Cat Name Time Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4
1 Mixed Samara SHEPPARD (143-1) 1:05:32 01:05:32
2 Women Anna BECK (109-2) 1:14:22 01:14:22
3 Women Briony MATTOCKS (109-1) 1:14:23 01:14:23

 

For full results head to the Reef to Reef site here.

Stage One – Details

Location: Smithfield MTB Park
Distance: 20km
Time: 1:13:59 (Phew beat 1:14!)
Terrain: 90% singletrack
Elevation climbed: 633m
Average Speed: 15.1km/h
Normalised Power: 305watts
Tyre pressure: 23psi front and rear

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