Australia’s first-ever adaptive champions crowned in downhill
NATThe first-ever Australian champions of adaptive downhill racing have been crowned today at the GWM Mountain Bike National Championships.
Fifteen riders contested the new event at Awaba Mountain Bike Park in the Lake Macquarie region of New South Wales.
Dry and dusty conditions confronted riders on the adaptive trail built by the host club, Hunter Mountain Bike Association (HMBA).
Daniel McCoy (Sunshine Coast CC), an ex-professional motorcross racer, won the men’s 1B category, which is for two-wheeled bicycles with power assistance. The Queenslander completed the course in 2 minutes 21 seconds, beating local rider Dean McSporran by 13 seconds.
McCoy, who has raced adaptive events in the USA and New Zealand, had been waiting some time to compete in his home country.
“It’s a great thing, for sure,” McCoy said.
“To compete in those events and see what it could be in Australia, and come and compete in the first one that they’ve had … to see how many athletes are here with a disability, is just incredible – and so many more people that [will] come next year.
“It’s something that will grow quickly and it was an awesome time. The track was fast, it was a short track, so I think in the future they can make a bit longer of a track, which would be nice, but it’s got to start somewhere, and I think this is the perfect starting point.”
Renee Junga (Gravity Girls South Australia) became the first female national champion in the discipline, beating local rider Coleen Boyes (HMBA) by 11 seconds in the women’s 2B category for recumbent e-bikes.
“It’s kind of crazy, I’m super stoked. I’m glad we had more than one woman show up, we had a class. It’s wicked,” Junga said.
“It’s great to be recognised. The sport’s only in its infancy. There’s just more and more people getting adaptive bikes and it’s just going to keep growing. It’s great to be recognised and have something to strive for.”
“I felt pretty flowy and in the zone, so it was really nice.”
Although adaptive cross-country has been part of the national championships since 2017, this was the first time adaptive downhill had been raced at this level in Australia.
Paralympic hand-cyclist Grant Allen (Port Adelaide CC), who won the men’s 2B event, noted the importance of the new event.
“It’s something that’s pretty special and meaningful because it’s really the start of something,” Allen said.
“We all collectively as a group of athletes here have a unique opportunity to forge a path for younger people who are coming through, and people who don’t even have a disability.
“To be at the forefront of it is a great honour and something that means a lot.”
Results – Adaptive Downhill
Men 1A
- Patrick Best (Mersey Valley Devonport CC) 2:20.075
Men 1B
- Daniel McCoy (Sunshine Coast CC) 2:21.200
- Dean McSporran (Hunter Mountain Bike Association) +12.31
Men 2A
- Forrest Campbell (Garigal Gorillas) 4:30.400
- Gordon Broome (Hobart Wheelers/Dirt Devils) +1:11.96
Men 2B
- Grant Allen (Port Adelaide CC) 2:31.611
- Luke Searl (Hunter Mountain Bike Association) +3.55
- Benjamin Rich (Hunter Mountain Bike Association) +17.82
Women 2B
- Renee Junga (Gravity Girls South Australia) 2:43.884
- Coleen Boyes (Hunter Mountain Bike Association) +11.85
2024 GWM Mountain Bike National Championships
- Location: Awaba Mountain Bike Park, Lake Macquarie, NSW
- Dates: March 12-17, 2024
- More information:2024 GWM Mountain Bike National Championships
Follow @AusCycling
The 2024 GWM Mountain Bike National Championships are proudly supported by Lake Macquarie City Council, and the NSW State Government through tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.
Photos: Matt Rousu
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