Riders set off from the Corn Hill start to ride a point-to-point cross country course that had something for everyone, with elements that rewarded climbing ability, technical skills and descending bravery. Paul van der Ploeg and Jenni King won the elite men's and women's races, respectively.
Men
Paul Van Der Ploeg completed the course in 1:24:06, to win the elite men's race by 1:39 ahead of Andy Blair. Van Der Ploeg, new to the elite field from the under 23 category, was surprised with the win but happy to have his first win in elite category.
"I'm not usually known for climbing, but I pulled away from the field up Stonefly climb and then I had a clear run. I was smiling the whole way down, the tracks at Mt Buller are great."
Blair was happy with his second place, especially as it let him maintain his series lead. Results can sometimes drive goals, and when asked about his goals for the year, Blair said, "I'm now starting to think about trying to win the series."
A strong performer throughout the weekend, 2008 Athens Olympian Dan McConnell won the general classification across the three events (super D, cross country, point to point cross country) for the Mt Buller round. "I'm happy with that. It's early in the season, and there is a lot of racing and improvement to come, but it's started off better than I thought and I'm excited for the rest of the season."
Women
Jenni King won the final non-downhill stage of the weekend by 1:36 from Rebecca Henderson, who suffered a flat tyre on a critical climb.
"It was a really tough race but I enjoyed it, the trails were challenging."
In winning, King wrapped up the general classification and remains undefeated in the series. "I think I've got the right formula this year. I'm trying to be consistent through the racing and peak for the national championship and the Oceania championship."
Full Results
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Elite men
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
1
Paul Van Der Ploeg (Felt Otztal, X-bionic, World Cup Team)
1:24:07
2
Andrew Blair (Swell Redshift MTB Team, Felt, FRM)
0:01:39
3
Sid Taberlay (Kenda / H20 Overdrive)
0:01:41
4
Neil Van Der Ploeg (Search2Retain - Felt)
0:01:43
5
Daniel McConnell (Anytime Fitness, Shimano, FOX)
0:02:11
6
Joshua Carlson (Australian Giant Factory team)
0:03:24
7
Peter Kutschera
0:05:22
8
Adrian Jackson (Merida Flight Centre MTB Team)
0:06:25
9
Matthew Fleming (Clarence St Cyclery, Shimano, Trek)
0:07:12
10
Nick Both (Swell-Redshift Racing)
0:07:48
11
Chad Gossert
0:08:04
12
Michael Vanos
0:09:00
13
Shaun Lewis
0:09:23
14
Ben Hogarth (Giant Exact MTB Team)
0:11:50
15
Michael Illing (Cycle Now,)
0:12:27
16
Jarrad Burrell
0:12:37
17
James Kennedy (Kalamunda Cycles)
0:13:45
18
Scott Liston (Search2Retain - Felt)
0:13:59
19
Evan Jeffery
0:13:59
20
Travis Frisby
0:16:08
21
Jack Lamshed (Felt Bicycles)
0:17:03
22
Grant Lebbink
0:24:06
23
Anthony Shippard
0:49:19
DNF
Matthew Zagurski
Row 23 - Cell 2
DNS
Andrew Arthur (Endeavour Cycles)
Row 24 - Cell 2
DNS
Eric Conliffe
Row 25 - Cell 2
DNS
Dylan Cooper (Trek Concepts.com.au)
Row 26 - Cell 2
DNS
John Groves (Apollo Bikes)
Row 27 - Cell 2
DNS
Ondrej Slezak (Bernard Beer)
Row 28 - Cell 2
DNS
Murray Spink (Giant Bicycles)
Row 29 - Cell 2
DNS
Jarrod Hughes
Row 30 - Cell 2
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Elite women
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
1
Jenni King (Torq Nutrition)
1:42:15
2
Tory Thomas (The Bicyle Superstore Albury)
0:01:36
3
Jodie Willett (For The Riders)
0:01:38
4
Katherine O'Shea (Torq Nutrition)
0:05:56
5
Rebecca Henderson (Anytime Fitness, Shimano)
0:07:52
6
Peta Mullens (Team Merida Moronis Bikes Bendigo)
0:07:52
7
Jessica Douglas (Torquay Cycling Factory/Giant Bikes)
0:13:17
8
Lindsay Gorrell
0:17:36
9
Kelly Bartlett
0:19:15
10
Sarah Holmes (Cycleworx Avantiplus)
0:23:32
11
Jaclyn Schapel (Giant Australia)
0:25:19
12
Felicity Wardlaw (only my partner)
0:25:21
13
Jenny Fay (Team Rockstar Racing)
0:28:04
14
Rosemary Barnes (Swell-Redshift)
1:16:01
DNS
Trudy Nicholas
Row 14 - Cell 2
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Under 23 men
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
1
Jack Haig
1:26:36
2
Luke Fetch (Search2Retain - Felt)
0:02:41
3
Robbie Hucker
0:04:21
4
Trenton Day (Scott Bikes, Breakaway Cycles)
0:04:25
5
Robbie Rhodes
0:08:58
6
Tom Goddard
0:11:34
7
Alexander Meyland (Rock and Road Cycles/Giant Bicycles)
0:22:40
8
Blake Polverino
0:26:53
9
Ben Marshall
0:29:18
10
Kyle Ward (Jet Racing, Specialized Bikes)
0:45:45
11
Sebastian Jayne (Bikeminded)
1:22:50
DNS
Michael Crosbie
Row 11 - Cell 2
DNS
Cameron Ivory
Row 12 - Cell 2
DNS
Rowan Brown
Row 13 - Cell 2
DNS
James Hanus (Scott Australia, Mitcham Cycle Centr)
Row 14 - Cell 2
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Under 23 women
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
1
Jess Wigan (Sealy's Cycles)
2:23:24
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Under 19 men
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
1
Billy Sewell (Torq mtb team, Continental, Gordon)
1:32:53
2
Benjamin Forbes (Kenmore Cycles)
0:00:02
3
Scott Bowden
0:00:59
4
Ben Comfort (TLC Cycles, Canberra Geoff Comfort P)
0:01:27
5
Christopher Aitken (Breakaway cycles ozriders.com.au)