Way to go Harley …..
The Rabodirect 2011 NZ MTB CUP started off to a flying start at Tauranga’s summer hill park for round 1 of the series in the North Island. The course here was VERY steep, with a 180m climb in the open which led us straight up to the top of the downhill track. We then had a small 2km loop around the top of the hill which was nice because it was in the trees, which was super helpful as the temperature was around 30 degrees! Then it was the start of the 3 minute decent down the old downhill race track, where my new Avanti’s slightly slacker head tube was a great advantage. It was steep and tight with loads of drop offs. I knew I had to be gutsy on the start, because I started at the back of the grid as I didn’t have a national ranking form last year. The start was CRAZY! Dust and stones flying everywhere, which had been thrown up by the elite men who started in the leading rows. Despite all this I managed to get into 4th place into the single track and clawed one more spot back on the first climb into 3rd which I held for the rest of the race comfortably. I was so stoked to get on the podium for the first time and also at the first round!
Next we headed to Napier for round 2 at Eskdale MTB Park which had a much flatter, rougher course than Tauranga, with only one climb and the rest down hill and flat. The start was again fast, with even bigger rocks flying about and one rider coming off who was almost trampled on multiple times. I was about mid pack into the first trail which was not where I wanted to be, so I forced myself to push on and managed to settle into 3rd position which I stayed at for the next lap. The fourth lap came around and I decided to make my move and went into 2nd place which I held for the rest of the race even managing to pull a lead on 3rd place. Second round and second podium! Couldn’t have been too much happier! South Island here I come!!
About Harley Going
Our latest "Sponsored Rider", Harley Going ....the young man to watch out for on the Mountain Bike circuit!!!
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