National Champs Seek Games Selection

Current Australian Cross Country Champion, Emma Colson (Melbourne) is looking to take the lead in the second round of the National Mountain Bike Series this weekend. Round Two will be held in Nannup, Western Australia this Saturday. Colson retuned from a recent knee injury to take second place in the opening round in Tasmania last month. By securing the Series lead Colson will ensure a pole position for the upcoming Commonwealth Games selection race to be held in Victoria in December. "I decided to get more race practice and to get a good ranking for the selection races,” Colson said.

Current National Champion, Chris Jongewaard is also vying for the Series lead and like Colson wants to be in pole position for the selection race. The South Australian rider narrowly missed selection for the Athens Olympics and is keen to impress selectors for the upcoming Commonwealth Games as well as looking towards the Beijing Olympics in 2008. “I'm just after another solid mountain bike race,” explained Jongewaard.

Current Series Leader and Olympian, Sid Taberlay will be racing in South Africa this weekend but will return to race in Victoria to cement his place in the Australian Commonwealth Games Team.

Former elite road cyclist, Naomi Williams from Launceston is also looking to catch the attention of selectors again after placing third in Tasmania . Her recent change of sport could work to her advantage as the Commonwealth Games selection race course will suit her road cycling background.

This weekend's course will be run over a hilly and challenging course. The figure eight 10km circuit consists of mostly single track with the inclusion of loose gravel and steep climbs that will test riders' skills and tyres. Cross Country racing starts at 11.30am on Saturday with the elite men and elite women starting at 3.45pm .

Racing continues on Sunday at 10.30am with Round Two of the National Downhill Series.