Alice Springs Ingkerreke Commercial Enduro MTB event - Race report from Jess Douglas
In December 2010 I decided to enter this event as a I had been keen to do it since its inception a few years back.
Entered online, paid for the airfares, accommodation booked, ready to go.
Time passed and before I knew it myself and a few friends were emailing each other frantically with last minute preparations. We flew out on Sunday May 15th to start racing on Monday 16th May.
My preparation was a natural build, nothing in particular, just racing and my normal training regime.
February I came 5th in the 100km Otway Odyssey MTB Marathon.
I also rode Cycling-Inform's Bright Boot Camp as a support rider in late Feb, which was a great base build.
March I raced the Bike Buller, 2 day, 3 stage event and came 2nd. A great weekend of riding hills and crazy technical terrain on the mountain bike.
Followed 2 weeks later with the massive Terra Australis, 7 day MTB stage race. 550km and 15000mts of climbing. This was the pinnacle of hurt. Nothing will ever be tough again I thought!
Finally I attended the Australian 24hr SOLO MTB Champs to defend my Aussie title over the Easter long weekend, only to decide ¾ ‘ers the way through that my 24hr days were over. None the less some magnificent training done.
So by then time this race came about, all I needed to do was rest up, get some speed back in the legs, prepare the bike and body and off I went.
With seven stages to complete over 5 days with amazing scenery and beautiful weather I can honestly say winning was not high on the agenda. Yes, I was hoping to do well, but I was not focussing on the win.
Jess Douglass racing solo during the Alice Springs Ingkerreke Commercial Enduro MTB event
Credit: Jose Garcia / Rapid Ascent
After completing stage 1 with a second place and loads of energy, I realised that I was doing it easy and needed to go a bit harder on day 2.
This next stage on Day 2 was to my liking with loads of punchy short climbs that could be done in the big chain ring with connecting 4wd tracks that could be powered along as well. On some technical single track I caught first place, Anna Beck and continued to power home finishing on the Alice Springs Velodrome. Putting a good 1.5 mins into her time buffer I won the stage but she was still in Yellow. I started to feel competitive now and still finishing with loads of energy.
With another stage to complete this afternoon, I was not too worried, it was a 300mt hill climb where I ended up coming 3rd. The 20 second time bonus for 1st place was gained by Anna Beck, which I was a bit slack in giving away upon reflection. Tomorrow I would try to take it off her.
Day 3 and this was the biggie, the endurance day, my time to let it rip. On the first climb I felt fresh and strong and passed my two main competitors in the first minute of the race, never to see them again. More punchy climbs, power straights and a big fat paved section for approx 35km where I managed to time trial it by myself and reel a bunch in front in. I really enjoyed the suffering here, the solid tempo I was able to hold and feeling totally in control. In the back of my head I did wonder how this all out effort would play out the next day, but had to take the risk and smash out a good time to get the Yellow jersey.
I could not believe it! I came in 10 mins before the next girl and 12 mins on Anna, which gave me a 9 min buffer and the Yellow.
Day 4, 2 stages. Day time Individual Time Trial on a 22km very technical single track course. 30 second breaks in between riders and I was feeling very very slow today. I did give away a couple of minutes to Anna, bringing us back to about a 7 min gap. Yellow is still mine.
Day 4, Night stage. Same course as the morning ITT, but now we had to ride it at night. I had the biggest and quickest crash. Hit a rock, went over the handlebars, got up and grabbed my bike and rode on. Not 5 mins later Anna Beck who was in front did the same, and I was able to grab the lead. Finishing a couple of minutes up on her, I had my 9 min buffer back again. Albeit a broken helmet. I had an offer to loan a helmet so was able to race on Friday.
It was hard to go to sleep tonight, on and off, turning restlessly all night long, the final day would be tough and I had no plans on risking my win on this, so took it a bit easier, completing the 40km course 2 mins down on Anna. It was the most technical day, the hottest day, the rockiest day off all. No crashes, no mechanicals and I won the entire event.
Winning 3 stages out of 7 the killer day was the 77km stage where I put the big time gap in. I am glad I took that risk and used my strength to ride alone rather than sitting up waiting to build a bunch.
Alice Springs was amazing, the mountain bike trails were like nothing I have ridden before and I am going back next year for sure.
