The long wait for the Australian 24hr Champs has now been run and won.

The largest MTB event in Australia sure did not fail to produce some great moments and of course typical Canberra weather - hot and dusty. Better than last year I guess - 24 hours of mud anyone?

I was there racing with the Giant Bicycles MTB Crew. My team was a 4 Man Pro.Team - one of the most fast and challenging teams events in the country. The team consisted of Murray Spink, Ivan Kalure, Llew Thomas and me. All of which outdid themselves for their consistency in racing. I was more than happy of how we all pulled together as a team and worked as one. We had a team plan we stuck to and it was delivered to a tee. A respectable 4th place was achieved on 25 laps. Sure we didn’t win but we gave it all a red hot attempt against some of the countries quickest names.

I was stoked with my racing for the weekend on a personal level. I did start the race for our Giant team, of which involved a 800m run, yes 800m everyone. After the gun sounded it was like the running of the bulls in human form. Hundreds of us were scrambling up the long straights pushing shoving and a couple of elbows were had by yours truly - it was just nuts! After I got my bike, I was still top 30 from the run. Once on the bike, I sorted things out making sure I set our team up for a great position for a clean run at the track for Muzza (aka Murray) to set a red hot fastest lap attempt - 51min lap was quick but there was still some traffic even he encounted finishing his second lap!

Both Ivan and Llew were very consistent who, for two riders who had never been involved in a teams 4 event like this for a 24hr really deserve to get a real pat on the back. My plan was to go set a red hot Night lap. I have had plenty of night riding experience and so had the perfect opportunity to really light it up as it got dark. As it happens team Felt’s Ash Thomas had a 3 minute gap on me in transition I set off like a man on fire. Blazing through the course the lap was unusually clear(ish) of traffic to overcome. Flying up the hills on my new Giant Anthem was a dream with riders saying after you had passed bl**dy hell that guy is flying! By the last 1km of my lap I had caught Ash - passed him and we were now in front! With a 55 minute Night Lap I was quite content with that effort as I started to wind the engine down till I was next up the next hour.

The next morning (Sunday) we were still within striking distance of top 3 podium. We had slipped over night from 2nd to 4th chasing the Felt Guys. As it turned out they just had too strong a line up of team riders arsenal to compete - all of which were either National level Elite XC MTB riders of had recently represented Australia at the Worlds last month.

A huge congrats must go once again to my fellow team riders for going the whole 24hrs with no complaints, the Factory Giant Racing Crew who kept me and the guys fully looked after with a huge selection of food, a personal mech. (24hrs solid!), A roof over our heads, and all the race support I could have only dreamed about for the event.

Thanks again to everyone who looked after the team and I especially Giant, Enervit, Michelin, Tech helmets, Mum (aka Dot), and Easton wheel systems for this event!

Check out the Gallery for some pixs!