Convict 100

A misty morning greeted the 100kers for their 7am start. The air was cool enough for warmers, but then it was a short bitumen bunch sprint to the first major climb. This year migration to the little hamlet of St Albans sees some of Australia ’s best mountainbikers race along side those who are just challenged by the distance. Riders arrived from all over NSW, as far away as Queensland and Tasmania , to this sold-out event.

With dry conditions leading up to the event, a massive elite field, points and glory up for grabs in the Real Insurance XCM Series the scene was set as the 100kers were launched from the river side for record breaking finishing times. Bunches quickly formed as hundreds of riders headed for the hills. It would be the first major climb that would sort out those that could (on-bike climb) with those who would have to try to next time.

At 9am the mist had almost cleared to a sunny sky, this was the start for the 50kers. The first two rows included quite a few elite team riders, I knew I had my work cut out just keeping up with the likes of young Kyle Ward and XC specialist Andy Arthur. The start was the usual blistering speed, one of the cyclocross riders did make a small break while still on the tarmac but the lead peloton easily brought him back into the fold before the 4wd trail.

Photo: theroostmag.com.au

After completing the climb, on the bike, I had made up quite a few places and crested the next few hills in a group of three. There was no letting up with the pace though and I did a long pull on the front, dropping our third rider and getting us within reach of the group in front of us. My travelling partner managed to cross the gap with a burst of speed on a climb but I just didn’t have that bit extra to catch them.

The group remained just out of reach for quite a few kilometres as I traversed the rock strewn and sandy fire-trails. Little did I know help was just behind me till a bunch of 29er hardtails sauntered past me, was I standing still? No these guys were absolutely hooking along the flat and smoother sections. A small amount of recovery and I begin pushing the group on the climbs and leaded them through the descents.

But it was the final descent, overtaking off the main line, brakeless and soaking up (or launching) the waterbars where my Yeti and I left the group picking around the rocks some where between the first and second waterbar. I made the gap to the remainder of the group in front which now was only two riders. We hit the dirt road and turned towards St Albans , I hoped we could TT this final section as a small group. I was focused on the task at hand when one of my compatriots informed us we were about to get visitors, the 29ers had made it off the hill and we were about to be crushed under their roadtrain.

Gravel flying we formed a group of around eight, the pace was just as high as the blistering speed we started on. We flew along the remained of the course, past the point where the 100kers join, over those last final little climbs and left it to the last final hundreds of meters before sprinting off the front in any hope to gain some sort of advantage. Crossing the line I was happy that I felt exhausted, I gave every effort to leave everything out on the trail.

Photo: theroostmag.com.au

The Elite 100kers, both male and female categories were on their way to making new course records. Andy Blair showed his experience under these fast and testing conditions to make a late break and cross the line first. Jenny Fay lead from the first climb and went on to set a seriously fast time. Congratulations must go out to those riders who completed the event and had fun while doing it.

The good news was everything worked perfectly for me. With energy from Hammer Nutrition’s HEED, Bar and Gel. My Yeti ASR-C climbed like a champion and made descending a breeze. I achieved my aim and set a new PB for myself, smashing my previous by around eight minutes.