Pair find the winning formula as mountain bike season gets under way

One local couple had the winning formula at Saturday’s Through the Loop Enduro race, hosted by the Queenstown Mountain Bike Club.

Eva Dethlefsen  won the women’s category and fiance Pete Robinson was second in the men’s open,  just  0.1sec behind winner Reece Potter. The pair were two of about 75 taking part in the first mountain bike event of the summer season, which ended at Wynyard Bike Park in the resort.

The five-stage, 20km race included a 1400m climb and 1700m descent split into men’s and women’s categories; open, masters and under 21. Dethlefsen, originally from Denmark, was impressed by her run.

"It was really, really good on some nice local trails. Finishing on the Salmon Run when it is wet is very difficult; there are some very steep corners and it is exposed and slippery. It was quite wet. I just took it steady trying not to crash."

Partner Robinson said, while he was disappointed to be so close to first place, it was the nature of the sport.  Club member Jimmy Pollard, who organised the event, said the  conditions did not deter contenders, but  described the course as demanding.

"All it takes is a little sprinkle and it wets the roots and it can become super unpredictable. It is challenging conditions to ride in when you have wet roots but dry terrain underneath."

The race was followed by the annual Season of Shred fundraiser, which included a jump jam, barbecue and live music. The event, organised by Atlas bar on behalf of the club, is the biggest money-maker of the season. Pollard had yet to total the amount of money raised.