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Preview

By Paul Goldsmith

The Australian National MTB championships are on this weekend in Thredbo, NSW, Australia's biggest ski resort, and the closest thing this flat, hot country has to an Alpine village.

Located 5 hours south of Sydney, Thredbo is more home to the stylishly clad than the downhill grungemeisters who rule at present.

Among the favorites to win the men's downhill this weekend is Chris Kovarik, winner in 2001 and 2000. After beating Joel Panozzo by 6 seconds last weekend in Mt Beauty, Victoria at the MTBA Nationals (run by Australia's other MTB body), Kovarik is the overwhelming favourite but with the course being very fast but not so technical, there is still a chance of an outsider causing a major upset.

In the Women's event, New South Wales' Tai-Lee Muxlow is expected to be too strong and fast for her rivals. Muxlow won last weekend's event after a fairly relaxed qualifying run. Talitha Fitzgerald improved on her qualifying run to take the silver.

In the Women's cross country event it looks like Mary Grigson against Mary Grigson. After winning 4 straight titles Grigson is almost unbackable to win this weekend. Grigson was a member of Australia's MTB team at the Atlanta Olympics, finishing 15th. In 2000 she won the Napa Valley world cup race, the NORBA series and finished 5th overall in the World Cup series. In the same year she won the second 24 hour Adrenalin World Solo championships, completing nearly 325 km in the 24 hours.

As for the men, Tasmanian Sid Taberley is the hot tip. Riding in the U23 category at the MTBA championships, Taberley comprehensively defeated reigning champion Paul Rowney as well as expected challenger and eventual Elite class winner Josh Fleming. Not bad for a rider who trailed Rowney by ten minutes at last year's nationals.

After this weekend Taberley will ride the Tour of Tasmania. Mountain bike success and in particular success in that race is a career path that worked well for another Australian star: recent Mapei recruit Cadel Evans. Is Taberley on the same path?

Meanwhile, the downhillers have been practicing today. See the photos page for some pictures from the Snowy Mountains sunshine.

Past winners

      XC Men            XC Women        DH Men            DH Women          Dual Men          Dual Women
2001  Paul Rowney       Mary Grigson    Chris Kovarik     Tai-Lee Muxlow    Jared Rando       Donna Hadfield
2000  Paul Rowney       Mary Grigson    Chris Kovarik     Donna Hadfield    Grant Day         Katrina Miller
1999  Paul Rowney       Mary Grigson    Joel Panozzo      Tai-Lee Muxlow 
1998  Rob Woods         Mary Grigson    Michael Ronning   Katrina Miller    Nathan Rennie     Suzanne Cengia
1997  Cadel Evans       Hanneke Geysen  Michael Ronning   Rachael Grundy    Miles Davis       Katrina Miller
1996  Cadel Evans       Alex Alty       Scott Sharples    Katrina Miller    Craig Fisher      Caroline Haas
1995  John Gregory      Janine Fayaets  Michael Ronning   Caroline Haas     Craig Fisher      Caroline Haas
1994  Rob Eva           Meg Carrigan    Scott Sharples    Bronwyn Battersby 
1993  Rob Eva           Janine Fayaets  Rob Eva           Bronwyn Battersby 
1992  Rob Eva           Robyn Harris    John Tomac (USA)  Rachael Bruce
1991  Vincent Flanagan  Robyn Harris    Ewen Gellie       Rachael Bruce     Robert Langlands  Nicole Dutton
1990  Scott Steward     Robyn Harris    Pete Smith        Rachael Bruce
1989  Graham Allbon     Megan Warthold  Ben Monroe        Robyn Harris
1988  Werner Wohlrab    Karen Wells     Ewen Gellie       Robi Van Nooten

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