Anaconda MTB Enduro
Stage 4 – Marathon through the desert sorts the tough from the tourists
Naantali Marshall - Rapid Ascent / 23.05.2008
Arriving at the finish line muddy, dusty, thirsty and exhausted many competitors collapsed to the ground and quickly retreated to the pool for refreshment.Arriving at the finish line muddy, dusty, thirsty and exhausted many competitors collapsed to the ground and quickly retreated to the pool for refreshment.
Stage 4 of the Anaconda MTB Enduro had been an epic 95km marathon ride from Ross River Station back into the Heavitree Gap Outback Lodge in Alice Springs.
After a big accident on Stage 3, Matthew Fleming demonstrated how tough he is by leading almost the entire race and finishing first in 3 hours 42 minutes and 42 seconds. In Stage 3 he hit a large rock in section of technical single track and flew off his bike, landing on his head gashing his forehead. Fortunately his bike was unscathed. Turning up to the start this morning with a black eye, stitches and pumped full of ibuprofen, fuelled by the disappointment of yesterday he dropped James Williamson an hour into the race and powered to the finish line having ridden nearly 3 hours on his own. Williamson hung on to second place in 3 hours 44 minutes and 5 seconds ahead of Ben Mather 30-seconds behind.
In the women, Naomi Hansen showed why she was wearing the yellow leader’s jersey winning in 4 hours 32 minutes and 33 seconds, closely followed by Imogen Smith a minute later. Throughout the race they took turns in the lead with Smith showing her road riding strength in the 20km sealed section only to have Hansen snatch it back in the single track for the last hour. Hansen claims the key, “is a strong mind� because you have to concentrate so hard in the tricky conditions and to just keep pushing. Smith, obviously disappointed by the loss looked fatigued and despondent straight after the race. She could see Hansen in front of her but couldn’t produce the extra power to catch her. In third, 18 minutes behind the lead girls was Jenni King (Box Hill, Victoria), a very consistent racer who has come third to Hansen and Smith in every round so far.
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