Michael Warren

Journalist

WITH an event motto for participants to ‘keep the good times rolling’ riders did exactly that as one of the country’s premier mountain bike stage events spectacularly wrapped up yesterday in Port Douglas.

The final stage of the Reef-to-Reef event saw competitors complete a 46km leg that started at Mount Molloy, continued along the bump track and ended with a beautiful and scenic final dash along picturesque four-mile beach.

Tasman Nankervis and Alex Lack claimed the overall men’s title, ahead of Brendan Johnston and Jon Odams, with Nathan Mummery and Alex Diorietes third.

Despite Johnston and Odams being first across the line in Sunday’s final stage Nankervis and Lack still claimed the overall title because of a superior overall time differential of almost nine minutes.

“It was good, we were in control in the first half and then it got quite gnarly, big holes and things like that so we were a bit cautious in there, we got a gap in the middle of the race but then they came back to us,” Nankervis explained.

“Then we went through this grassy patch and got wrapped up, had to stop and fix that so there was a little gap, once these guys went onto the bump track first we weren’t willing to take too many risks down there, it was a good way to finish.

“This is one of the premier events of the year, it’s so hard to win with the pairs as well, you’ve got to get someone that’s compatible with you, the same level of fitness, but also someone you can work well together with, it’s hard to win a pairs event I reckon.”

Anna Beck and Karen Hill won the women’s pairs, while Emma Viotto and Karl Michelin-Beard took the mixed pairs.

Reef to Reef – Stage four and overall results

Men’s pairs

1. Giant Australia Off-Road Team P/B Shimano – Brendan Johnston & Jon Adams – 1:33:47

2. Tasman and the Tasmanian - Tasman Nankervis & Alex Lack – 1:34:51

3. Cheese Graters – Nathan Mummery & Alex Diorietes – 1:42:32

Mixed pairs

1. Roxsolt X Rolla – Peta Mullens & Jarrod Moroni – 1:44:22

2. Shimano MyRide – Emma Viotto & Karl Michelin-Beard- 1:45:17

3. Risky Business – Holly Harris & Mitch Docker- 1:48:56

Women’s pairs

1. Millennial Forest Avocado Warriors P/B Velocio – Anna Beck & Karen Hill – 1:50:33

2. Two Girls, Two Bikes – Sharon Dean & Monique Ralph – 2:25:13

3. Willow Lane Ski Team – Morna Nielsen & Kathryn Drew – 2:26:04

Reef to reef – general classification

Men’s pairs

1. Tasman and the Tasmanian - Tasman Nankervis & Alex Lack – 6:08:52

2. Giant Australia Off-Road Team P/B Shimano – Brendan Johnston & Jon Adams – 6:17:13

3. Cairns Airport – Nathan Sandford & Dominic Hoyal – 6:35:59

Mixed pairs

1. Shimano MyRide – Emma Viotto & Karl Michelin-Beard- 6:48:58

2. Roxsolt X Rolla – Peta Mullens & Jarrod Moroni – 6:52:22

3. Risky Business – Holly Harris & Mitch Docker- 7:01:04

Women’s pairs

1. Millennial Forest Avocado Warriors P/B Velocio – Anna Beck & Karen Hill – 7:11:10

2. Two Girls, Two Bikes – Sharon Dean & Monique Ralph – 9:39:32

3. Willow Lane Ski Team – Morna Nielsen & Kathryn Drew – 9:42:54

Triple-R – 48km results

1. Stephen Knott – 1:47:01

2. Rinaldo Lookene – 1:49:04

3. Lennon Colclough – 1:54:14

Triple-R – 35km results

1. Chris Cochrane – 1:19:41

2. Joshua Rayner – 1:20:32

3. Maxwell Foley – 1:22:21