Mackay junior mountain biker Max Teague produced a strong start to his national season at the AusCycling XCO National Series – Round 1 & 2 in Mt Crosby, coming away with a 2nd place on Saturday and a 3rd place on Sunday in the U15 Men’s category.
Racing took place in hot, humid conditions on a steep and technical course. The U15 riders started just behind the U17 field, which led to a chaotic opening climb when several of the U17 front riders slipped out. The crash caused a chain reaction through the bunch, leaving Max and others off their bikes and forced to run the first couple of hills to get back into the race.
Despite the disrupted start, Max worked his way through the field on Saturday and positioned himself well for the final straight. He finished with a close, hard-fought sprint to take 2nd place.
Storms on Sunday morning left the course muddy and slippery. Max got away cleanly at the start but, like many riders, struggled with the heat as the race went on. He held his pace and managed to secure 3rd place to round out a consistent weekend.
Max’s father, Alan, said it was one of the tougher race weekends Max has faced, with the heat, humidity, and technical course all adding to the challenge. He said Max handled the chaos on the first climb well and was happy with how he sprinted for second on Saturday, and how he pushed through difficult conditions on Sunday to take third. Max is now looking ahead to Rounds 3 and 4 in Bendigo in three weeks’ time.
Mackay Cycles owner and sponsor Kyle Marwood said Max showed resilience across both rounds and handled the conditions with maturity. He said the ability to reset after the opening crash and still finish on the podium both days shows strong development and a good foundation for the rest of the season.
Contributed by Kyle Marwood
Mackay junior mountain biker Max Teague opened his national season with impressive consistency, securing 2nd and 3rd place finishes in challenging conditions at the AusCycling XCO National Series in Mt Crosby. Photos supplied
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