24 hrs Night and Day - Images and results.

I had a little chat to Andrew Bell (the solo winner) on my last lap, at about 11:30. Everyone was really sore and tired, so I said “At least it’s the last lap!”

“I’m hoping to sqeeze one more in,” he said.

“You’re keen!” I replied.

“I’ve got someone chasing me, so I have to. I don’t want to!” he said.

Then he passed me and took off. I didn’t know at this stage that he was the race leader, and on his 28th lap (I was on my 5th). I was about the slowest person on the course, yet he was happy to have a little chat with me on his way past. There was absolutely no arrogance shown – top bloke as far as I’m concerned.

More results and photos here – http://www.cyclingnews.com/mtb.php?id=mtb/2007/oct07/scott_24hour07

Now that I have finally pulled myself together, I have to say that the Scott 24 Hour was the best one yet! The dustless transition on the crit track was great. The camping was fantastic (OK, we were in the teams of 2 & 3, and scored a spot right on the edge of the crit track). The course was awesome, and held up really well – I guess this is a testament to the trail building skills of Glen Jacobs team & the CORC trail building crew. Huge thanks to CORC, all the sponsors (Scott, EDS, Toyota), the volunteers, and the competitors who voted with their feet for Australia’s best (if not the world’s best) 24 hour mountain bike race.

So don’t touch that dial folks, the Australian mountain bike championships are on at Stromlo in January, followed by a round of the mountain bike world cup in August, and the 24 hour again in October. Then 2009 will see the Australian mountain bike championships again in January, and then in September the biggest event yet – the 2009 mountain bike world championships!

I guess there’s lot to do before then, so I hope to see some of you out on the trail working bees.

They are truly awesome! Love the night shots. I wish i could have got shots like that, got plenty at transition but a number of times i wished i had taken my camera out on a lap. Unfortunately it would have wrecked havoc with my times. I’ll have to buy some professional shots i think. The view from the top was amazing. My team placed middle of the field. A great weekend all round.

Oh right – sorry! Got distracted with the first photo and didn’t read below. My correctly directed thanks to Gregory Nelson and the guys over at CORC.

justbands – agreed. The trails/facilities out there are great and there’s such a wide variety of them for all skill levels/enthusiasts. My brother was in a corporate team of 10 and they came 2nd by a hair! Aiming for first next year so they say.

Nice pics. Was a great event. My trainer was competing in a team, so I went along a few times (it’s just down the road from my place) to show my support. They ended up finishing 12th in the Mal teams of 6 category, which is pretty good. I’m looking forward to the world class events that are coming up at Stromlo in the next few months, it’s a fantastic facility.

Don’t thank me Lilli – thank CORC and the photographer Gregory Nelson.

(I wasn’t even there – I was sunning myself and drinking beer down at the coast as per Jazz’s suggestion here!)

Yawn!

Brilliant set of photos there Joe – can’t wait for the official ones to get uploaded! It was a great weekend for spectators as well as entrants, congrats to all who had the guts to enter!