Great joy in camp by Paul Van Der Ploeg: the 21-year-old Australian from FELT ÖTZTAL X-BIONIC Worldcup Team placed third overall at the Australian Cross Country Mountain Bike National Series and again secured the victory in the U23 category.
Van Der Ploeg was only beaten by four time national Champion Chris Jongewaard and last years National Series Champion Lachlan Norris. With his good results in Australia, Van Der Ploeg once again showed his ambitions towards the upcoming World Cup season.
The FELT ÖTZTAL X-BIONIC rider, who suffered from a patellar tendon injury half way through the season forcing him to miss the World Championships in September, was very happy about his results in Hobart: "It's a technical track, so that suits me and I'm very happy I came in third against the elite guys. Chris and Lachlan really made it a thrilling race. I could not train much over the last months and now, after a few weeks of solid training, I feel like I'm riding faster every day".
Winner Chris Jongewaard also recognized the young Australians efforts: "These young guys were snapping at my heels and have made a big improvement since last season. They have really stepped up the level of mountain biking in Australia."
Van Der Ploeg finishes third in Short Track Race
On Sunday 12th December, Van Der Ploeg, who won the first Short Track Race of the National Series, crossed the line in third, 23 seconds adrift. Jongewaard demonstrated once again that he hasn't lost any of his skill as he powered around the short track for his second victory of the weekend. "It was a very hard short track and I was very tired after Saturdays long race", stated the young FELT ÖTZTAL X-BIONIC rider, who again won convincingly the U23 Category.
In the overall standings of the Australian National Mountain Bike series Van Der Ploeg continues to push forward and currently leads the U-23 ranking for the best young rider. Nevertheless, the FELT ÖTZTAL X-BIONIC rider does not want to use up too early in the season all the forces and is intensely focused on the World Cup season which begins late April 2011 in Pietermaritzburg (South Africa).
Results
Australian Mountain Bike National Series Olympic Cross Country, Glenorchy MTB Park, 11. December 2010
Men's Elite Olympic Cross Country Results
1. Chris Jongewaard SA 1:47:05
2. Lachlan Norris VIC 1:47:24
3. Paul Van Der Ploeg * VIC 1:50:40
4. Aiden Lefmann QLD 1:50:47
5. Andrew Blair NSW 1:51:47
Australian Mountain Bike National Series Short Track, Glenorchy MTB Park, 12. December 2010
Men's Elite Short Track Results
1. Chris Jongewaard SA 25:38.36 (18 laps)
2. Lachlan Norris VIC 25:42.44
3. Paul Van Der Ploeg* VIC 26:01.36
4. Mitchell Codner NSW 26:18.71
5. Joshua Carlson NSW 26:46.01
The Australian Mountain Bike Series will continue in the New Year, in Mt. Baw Baw in Victoria on January 14-16.
Van Der Ploeg was only beaten by four time national Champion Chris Jongewaard and last years National Series Champion Lachlan Norris. With his good results in Australia, Van Der Ploeg once again showed his ambitions towards the upcoming World Cup season.
The FELT ÖTZTAL X-BIONIC rider, who suffered from a patellar tendon injury half way through the season forcing him to miss the World Championships in September, was very happy about his results in Hobart: "It's a technical track, so that suits me and I'm very happy I came in third against the elite guys. Chris and Lachlan really made it a thrilling race. I could not train much over the last months and now, after a few weeks of solid training, I feel like I'm riding faster every day".
Winner Chris Jongewaard also recognized the young Australians efforts: "These young guys were snapping at my heels and have made a big improvement since last season. They have really stepped up the level of mountain biking in Australia."
Van Der Ploeg finishes third in Short Track Race
On Sunday 12th December, Van Der Ploeg, who won the first Short Track Race of the National Series, crossed the line in third, 23 seconds adrift. Jongewaard demonstrated once again that he hasn't lost any of his skill as he powered around the short track for his second victory of the weekend. "It was a very hard short track and I was very tired after Saturdays long race", stated the young FELT ÖTZTAL X-BIONIC rider, who again won convincingly the U23 Category.
In the overall standings of the Australian National Mountain Bike series Van Der Ploeg continues to push forward and currently leads the U-23 ranking for the best young rider. Nevertheless, the FELT ÖTZTAL X-BIONIC rider does not want to use up too early in the season all the forces and is intensely focused on the World Cup season which begins late April 2011 in Pietermaritzburg (South Africa).
Results
Australian Mountain Bike National Series Olympic Cross Country, Glenorchy MTB Park, 11. December 2010
Men's Elite Olympic Cross Country Results
1. Chris Jongewaard SA 1:47:05
2. Lachlan Norris VIC 1:47:24
3. Paul Van Der Ploeg * VIC 1:50:40
4. Aiden Lefmann QLD 1:50:47
5. Andrew Blair NSW 1:51:47
Australian Mountain Bike National Series Short Track, Glenorchy MTB Park, 12. December 2010
Men's Elite Short Track Results
1. Chris Jongewaard SA 25:38.36 (18 laps)
2. Lachlan Norris VIC 25:42.44
3. Paul Van Der Ploeg* VIC 26:01.36
4. Mitchell Codner NSW 26:18.71
5. Joshua Carlson NSW 26:46.01
The Australian Mountain Bike Series will continue in the New Year, in Mt. Baw Baw in Victoria on January 14-16.
