Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge
International Red Bull Challengers Charge to the Lead
20.11.2008
After twisting his ankle and cutting his chin, David Crawshay, competing for team Cascade Green, was advised to sit out and was replaced by Challenge volunteer, Glen Campbell from Launceston.
After starting strongly Campbell came off his bike in a fall that fellow competitor Leigh Colbert described as, “Ouch!� Campbell didn’t sustain any significant injuries but suggested that perhaps there was “something wrong with the bike� as this was the same bike that Crawshay came off on the previous day!
Challenge Race Director Tim Saul made the decision to reduce the trek, taking competitors up Mt Claude and down again, rather than trekking along the Triple Tops of Roland, Van Dyke and Claude due to thick fog which kept the safety helicopter grounded.
Despite early rain Webber described the day as “perfect race conditions� as he and partner Emma Weitnauer set off.
Competitors started with a mountain bike along Claude Rd before hitting the incline as they wound their way up to the Mt Round car park. From there they had an almost vertical trek to the Mt Claude lookout before descending again on the slippery gravel surface.
No Roads Expeditions pair Javith Ababu & Gibson Kemori remained upright on their bikes before showing the rest of the field how it’s done on the trek. Ababu & Kemori were disappointed the trek had been reduced as this is their strongest discipline given their day jobs as porters on the Kokoda Trail.
Race leaders Keen, Red Bull and Driza-Bone continued their impressive form from Day One and showed why they are easily the best athletes on the course. Boonstra & Kubicek made a break and ended the day first across the finish line in 3:15:54, three minutes ahead of Keen’s Jarad Kohlar and Deanna Blegg.
Kohlar and Blegg began the day in the last wave of starting groups, a full 20 minutes behind Webber. As they made ground over the trek it was the kayak where the pair showed their true strength, powering past those in front.
“They were powering along like they had an outboard on the back�, said Webber.
After yesterday’s navigational error Driza-Bone Activ managed to stay on course and make up some time and only trailed Red Bull by 13.36 minutes at the finish.
Tomorrow competitors will start on a mountain bike course around the Country Club in Launceston, before negotiating a ropes course and rafting down the Cataract Gorge. From there the Challenge moves south to Port Arthur, ahead of the finish in Hobart on Sunday.
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