New Zealand’s Whitestar Intrigue Mountain Bike Race
17.02.2007
More than 200 riders turned up last month for New Zealand’s annual Whitestar Intrigue mountain bike race, held on the Coromandel Peninsula.Established in 2003, this scenic tour of the Coromandel high country is becoming a favourite with mountain bikers looking to put some adventure back in their riding. Starting and finishing in Coromandel township the 53km course is as tough as it is scenic. The White Star farm station offers spectacular ride normally closed to the public, but with almost 1200 vertical metres of climbing this is not a challenge to be taken lightly.
Former Commonwealth Games road cyclist, Roz Reekie-May, has tasted how tough this race can be. Last year the Morrinsville rider lost a 5min lead when the brutal course killed her bike before it killed her. This year she was better prepared and overcame a stiff challenge from darkhorse masters entrant Marquita Gelderman from Helensville.
The older Gelderman stayed close in the opening 24k from Coromandel to Whitestar Station near Kennedy Bay. Midway through the race she was still only 90secs in arrears as both women rode within the top 20 men. But Reekie-May’s international experience saw her pull away convincingly on the long haul around Colville and Waitete Bay and back to Coromandel. She eventually crossed the finish 16th overall in 3hrs 34min 48secs. Gelderman trailed seven minutes in arrears but took consolation in winning the masters category by more than 30min.
Up front, the men’s race saw three previous winners of this race, but when push came to shove former national rep Mark Leishman totally outclassed the field. The Palmerston North pro led from start to finish, opening up a two-minute lead on Auckland masters competitor and 2003 winner Michael May in the fast riding to Whitestar Station. But on the high country section to Colville and across the Coromandel Peninsula’s central divide to Waitete Bay and back to Coromandel township, Leishman added 12min to his lead to eventually win by a almost 15min in 2hrs 39min 46secs.
