19 June 2009

The First Year in Green Flames by Adrian Jackson

The transition from the Flight Centre – Scott team to Merida – Flight Centre was a subtle but very pleasing step up in how the team operated.  I missed the big kick off at the 2008 Flight Centre Epic (I was trying not to get lost in Poland at the World MTBO Champs), but my teammates were kicking things off in the professional way they know how.

Upon returning to Melbourne and reports began trickling in on how the new team was going to operate, who was on it and the level of support we would be able to receive, I was motivated to say the least.  I had only a month or so to prepare for my first big outings with the new team – the 2008 Scott 24 Hour and the “big one”, the Crocodile Trophy.  Upon the first carbon hardtail I had had the privilege of riding (the Carbon FLX Team D) I was bombing along, and coming out of some good racing at the Scott I went to the Croc with high expectations.

The Croc turned out to be a huge bag of mixed emotions, great memories and invaluable experience.  The total domination of the race by the Czechs was impossible for Tim, Nick and myself to fight against, so strategy changed mid race to try and get Jo to the finish in Cape Tribulation still in the leader’s jersey and see if one of us could pick up a stage win.  History will go to show we very nearly achieved both goals (Jo 2^nd overall and myself 2^nd on the 5^th stage), but the way the team conducted ourselves grew us more coverage and fans than we possibly could have hoped for before the race.

After the mind numbing riding in far north Queensland, the return of the National XC series was a bit of a shock to the system.  An even bigger shock was the 2^nd round in Illinbah (QLD) where I managed to stay ahead of the chasers in a tropical downpour to win my first National level XC race.  The wet theme continued to the 3^rd round a couple of weeks later in You Yangs (VIC) where I kept up my good form in a stronger field to take 4^th in elite.

After a very nice Christmas present of a fleet of new 2009 bikes (96 team dually, Scultura Evo roadie and a new ’09 spec Carbon FLX Team hardtail) I headed off on the annual pilgrimage of riders to the Victorian Alps for a very solid one and a half weeks of smashing the road climbs and singletracks.

The National XC Champs always brings the cream to the top, and 2009 was no exception.  The Merida – Flight Centre team was there en masse, again creating an excellent impression amongst the MTB community both on and off the track.  My race was not as good as I was hoping for, and after 3 disappointing years at Mt Stromlo I was quite happy to find that the next few years champs will be hosted in Adelaide.  With a bit of luck and a lot of hard work I will be aiming to finally get a result at Nationals that I can truly be pleased with.

The final two National rounds were a bit of a turn around, with a 5^th in elite at Mt Buller and a pleasing 3^rd in elite at Hobart.  With four consistent races and the fact that few people went to all the rounds, I ended up with 2^nd place overall in the series.  If someone had have told me a year ago that I would win one round and come 2^nd in the National XC Series I would have told them to take a reality check!

As the National Series drew to a close, a few big marathon races were also happening.  The 2009 Otway Odyssey again drew a field as good as the National Champs ($3000 for 1^st place helps that!), and after a conservative start I rode into the race and after 100km found myself having to sprint for the finish.  I finished 4^th in the end behind the current National Champ, latest Olympian and previous Odyssey winner; needless to say I was quite satisfied with that!

The ‘Croc four’ (Tim, Jo, Nick and I) were the assault team to take on the Kiwis at the 2009 Karapoti.  With all of us coming with good form and a strong desire to finally take home the title for the Flight Centre team (after many years of trying!) we quickly took charge of the race; I found myself off the front alone and feeling good, with Tim and Nick sitting pretty back in the chasing pack.  But mountain biking is never predictable, and a few very untimely flat tires and broken chains saw the end of title hopes.  Nick ended up a very credible 3^rd place, but the top spot again slipped by.

After a forgettable Oceania XC Championships I had a very overdue break for a few weeks to let the accumulated effects of a very long summer of racing slip away from the body.  Fresh and motivated it was back to logging serious miles in anticipation of the Anaconda Enduro stage race in Alice Springs and a long assault on the European summer.  Before those, however, was another flagship event for the team with the Merida 24 Hr at the superb Hidden Vale venue.  A fantastic weekend was had by all and both teams managed to win their categories by healthy margins – testament to the caliber and commitment of all on the team.

As the days turned colder, wetter and shorter it became increasingly more difficult to train well, but the looming specter of trying to defend my title from the 2008 Anaconda Enduro kept me pedaling hard.  The racing turned out to be incredibly tight, and in the end there were 2 riders one step ahead of the rest of us, and I had to settle for 3^rd place.  The Anaconda also signified the end of pedaling in anger for Tim Bennett, the teams most experienced and respected rider.  After a long career of racing professionally alongside the world’s best, Tim chose to spend the last few years racing with Flight Centre.  Tim has been a fantastic influence on the team, and perhaps my most fulfilling result to date was achieved with Tim at the 2008 BC stage race in Canada.  I have learnt much from Tim, and hopefully he continues as part of the team in a management role where he can continue to be a mentor for us younger riders.

Which now brings me to the present.  Typing on a plane bound for Europe I find it amazing to reflect on how many good races and experiences have been packed into just short of one year in the green flames.  The support we have received from all of the teams sponsors has been nothing short of amazing.  The Merida bikes only know one speed – flat out; whichever Schwalbe tires we choose from their vast range keep that speed in control; Lazer and BBB keep us looking cool while going flat out; NightRider continue to burn holes in the darkness while going flat out; meanwhile Flight Centre continues to be a proud supporter of what we love to do.

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