Mountain Biking: Tough build-up to champs

Members of the Rotorua-based NZXC Racing team are gearing up for the Oceania Champs in two weeks time. Pictured are team manager Sam Thompson (left) and riders Katie O'Neill, Amber Johnston, Carl Jones and Dirk Peters. Photo/Ben Fraser

Rotorua couple Katie O'Neill and Carl Jones have worked their way on to the podium just two weeks out from the Oceania Championships.

O'Neill finished second and Jones third at the 2014 Scott Karapoti Classic in Wellington on Saturday.

O'Neill underwent spinal fusion surgery in 2012 and started racing mountain bikes again last year.

The 24-year-old cross country rider said her back was getting stronger and she was stoked to earn a second place finish at the Karapoti Classic, in the women's elite race.

"It was my first time ever doing the Karapoti Classic and it is one of New Zealand's longest standing races. I've always wanted to do it and tick it off my list," she said.

"I was pretty happy for my first time.

"To get sub three-hours is what a lot of people are trying to crack as well, so I was happy to achieve that on my first go."

O'Neill finished the 50km course in 2hr 57min 08sec, finishing behind defending champion Kim Hurst (Upper Hutt), who set a new course record on Saturday of 2hr 45min 29sec.

O'Neill said she got a rude awakening early on in the course when she plunged into a river which goes up to your chest.

The river crossing is a famous part of the Karapoti Classic and often catches people out.

Her partner Jones, also a member of the Rotorua-based NZXC Racing team, finished third in the men's elite race, behind Christchurch's Anton Cooper and Feilding's Mathew Waghorn.

Jones said it was always a tough race and he was lucky to get the third place result on Saturday after his tyre started going flat before re-sealing.

"I was riding on 10psi for the last 7km," he said.

Jones stayed just behind NZXC junior Eden Cruise until the river crossing near the end of the race, where he overtook him.

"We both got across together and somehow I got on my bike first."

Unfortunately for Rotorua's Dirk Peters, who won the event last year, he had a puncture during the race and finished fifth.

Jones said he and O'Neill were now looking to prepare for the Oceania Champs being held at Mt Hutt in the South Island on Saturday, March 15 and Sunday, March 16.

"I feel like I have been stepping up all season. Oceania is the peak event for New Zealand and I want to get better and better for the world cups," he said.

The Oceania Champs will double as a selection race for the New Zealand Commonwealth Games cross country team this year.

O'Neill and Jones are already in Christchurch training for the competition.

Other members of the NZXC team, Kate Fluker, Peters and Amber Johnston, will travel to Queenstown this weekend for the Motatapu Challenge, before taking part in the Oceania Champs.