Kona Odyssey marathon

Media Release - Rapid Ascent - / 19.02.2012

Giant team rider Lachlan Norris defied pundits’ predictions to win the Kona Odyssey Mountain Bike Marathon today, maintaining an unassailable lead after passing race favourite, Team Milka/Superior’s Chris Jongewaard, following the 25km mark. Norris, a rider who tackles both mountain and road disciplines at the elite level , took advantage of Jongewaard suffering a flat tyre early on, flashing past as last year’s champion remounted to engage the chase.

It was a pursuit dogged by mishap for Jongewaard, who arrived over the line one minute and forty seconds behind Norris sporting a face battered and bloodied by several whip attacks by wayward foliage. Norris showed himself as a star of the single trail, however, by maintain a blistering pace and holding off any attacks Jongewaard could muster to finish in 04:32:52.

"The last few years I’ve had a real crack here and come very close, so this is just awesome to win this year and put everyone away,” said Norris, who once ahead was not aware that Jongewaard was constantly within two minutes of his rear wheel. “

"It was tough out there as it always is,” said Norris of the hot conditions, which contrasted starkly to last year’s mud fest. “I just wanted to keep the tempo going without going too hard and blowing. Once I got to the Shotz Singletrack loop, I was ready to put the hammer down to get some more time. Once we came through the village for the final loop I was pretty confident I could hold him (Jongewaard) off, although the legs were pretty sore on that final climb.”

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