Brendan Johnston and Jon Odams won the prologue at The Pioneer in Queenstown, New Zealand, today.
The duo won the prologue by 18 seconds, beating Garry Milburn and Christopher Aitken into second. Defending champions Tim Rush and Michael Vink completed the podium.
“I think we rode well and within ourselves,” said Odams.
“At the start I was looking at the time gaps and we caught them pretty quick on one of the open rocky descents and worked on trying to get away on the single track but it was too tight, you can’t really get away on those sections.
“We then paced it up the final climb to the finish, that was a good day.”
The open women’s category was won by defending champions Kate McIlroy and Amy Hollamby. Nina McVicar and Reta Trotman came second.
In the mixed category Kate Fluker and Mark Williams edged the stage by just 2.4 seconds from Jo Skerman and Josie Wilcox.
“It was almost a tie; we rode most of the way together and had a good time,” said Fluker.
“It is always different racing home trails, you have to race them harder than we would normally, and we almost got caught out on a few of the corners, but that was fun.”
View more results below.
Brendan Johnston and Jon Odams won the prologue at The Pioneer in Queenstown, Australia, today. Photo: Tim Bardsley-Smith
Prologue (26km)
Open men
1. Brendan Johnston & Jon Odams, AUS, Giant Australia Off-Road, 1:11:16
2. Garry Milburn & Christopher Aitken, AUS, Maap Shimano, 1:11:34
3. Tim Rush & Michael Vink, NZL, Onya Bike North Otago, 1:11:41
Open women
1. Kate McIlroy & Amy Hollamby, NZL, Stonewood Homes, 1:25:16
2. Nina McVicar & Reta Trotman, NZL, New World St Martins, 1:32:10
3. Hannah Buchannan & Sarah Gilbert, NZL/USA, Tiki Wine & Vineyards, 1:37:07
Mixed
1. Mark Williams & Kate Fluker, NZL, New World-Pivot, 1:18:42
2. Joe Skerman & Josie Wilcox, NZL, JoJo, 1:18:44
3. Holly Harris & Michael Harris, AUS, Sram Mtoss, 1:20:19
General classification
Open men
1. Brendan Johnston & Jon Odams, AUS, Giant Australia Off-Road, 1:11:16
2. Garry Milburn & Christopher Aitken, AUS, Maap Shimano, 1:11:34
3. Tim Rush & Michael Vink, NZL, Onya Bike North Otago, 1:11:41
Open women
1. Kate McIlroy & Amy Hollamby, NZL, Stonewood Homes, 1:25:16
2. Nina McVicar & Reta Trotman, NZL, New World St Martins, 1:32:10
3. Hannah Buchannan & Sarah Gilbert, NZL/USA, Tiki Wine & Vineyards, 1:37:07
Mixed
1. Mark Williams & Kate Fluker, NZL, New World-Pivot, 1:18:42
2. Joe Skerman & Josie Wilcox, NZL, JoJo, 1:18:44
3. Holly Harris & Michael Harris, AUS, Sram Mtoss, 1:20:19
