Australians Dominate NZ’s Favourite Mountain Bike Race

Michael Jacques / 11.03.2004

It was Australia’s day at the 19th Giant Bicycles Karapoti Classic as riders from across the Tasman dominated New Zealand’s premier mountain bike event.

Established in 1986, the Giant Bicycles Karapoti Classic remains the longest running and best-known mountain bike event on either side of the Tasman. Based within the rugged splendour of Wellington’s Akatarawa Ranges the gruelling 50km course ranks amongst the top 25 such races in the world. That international reputation continued in 2004 with an Australian double.

When Australian Olympic squad member Peter Hatton arrived in Wellington on Friday he wasn’t quite sure how he’d go in the Karapoti Classic. Just five days prior the Australian Olympic squad member had failed to finish their national championships due to back problems and having never seen Karapoti’s extremely technical 50km course he wasn’t expecting anything but a solid race. But Hatton’s idea of solid turned out to be a convincing win against a world-class field.

Despite crashing three times and suffering a puncture the Sydney-sider emerged victorious after a four-way battle with Kiwis Chris Burr, Tim Vincent and fellow Aussie Tim Bennett. It was Bennett – who finished fifth in the Australian championship just a week ago – who pushed the 20 year old the hardest. Hatton trailed his fast starting compatriot and defending champion Tim Vincent through the first half of the race. But with a combination of superb technical skills and running ability he made his move on the 2km bike-carry section up 500m high Devil’s Staircase and then despatched his challengers on the final downhill.

“Jeez, I don’t want to come all the way to New Zealand to get beaten by another Ozzie”, said Hatton after holding out Bennett by just 49secs. “It was a great race; the competition was hot all the way then on the last down hill I really nailed it and managed to get away.”

Behind the Australians New Zealand number three Chris Burr got the better of his Nelson compatriot Tim Vincent for third in 2hrs 35min 11secs.

Two-time world junior champion Lisa Mathison lived up to her pre-race favouritism, winning ahead of local Wellington hope Robyn Wong despite what the Brisbane rider called, “the hardest race of my life.”

“We don’t have hills like that at home, they were up and up and up,” said the mud-caked 19 year old seconds after she led a world class women’s race across the line in 3hrs 01min 09sec.