Cyclists tackle Wild West series

THE Wild West mountain bike series returned to the hills of Adare, outside Gatton, at the weekend with competitors thundering around a technical but fun course.

A total 135 riders from around south-east Queensland got an early start with racing across all classes from Juniors to A-grade, staring down the heat and tearing around the 4.4km course after an 8am start.

Former World Cup downhill mountain bike racer and Beijing Olympian Jared Graves set the benchmark for other riders to aspire to after completing the required five laps in one hour, seven point minutes, beating home his nearest rival, Ben Forbes by over two minutes.

The Toowoomba based rider was shadowed by current Queensland champion Aiden Lefmann and Ben Forbes for much of the race, before breaking away from the challengers over the last two laps.

Organiser John Pinnell said he was really happy with the attendance for the race, which was the first round of the Wild West series and the first mountain bike race of the year.

Mr Pinnell said many of the riders entered the race to shake off the Christmas break and tune-up for championship rounds later in the year.

Wild West Mountain Bike Series-Round 1 Results

A Grade:

1st Jared Graves.

2nd Ben Forbes.

3rd Michael Illing.

B Grade:

1st Dean Macklin.

2nd Josh Houton.

3rd Karl Withers.

C Grade:

1st Murray Withers.

2nd Jules Fuller-Fontaine.

3rd John Russell.

Juniors:

1st Mathorson Galway.

2nd Oliver Reid.

3rd Steve Madden.