THE ADAPTIVE MTB CA TEGORY
Adaptive mountain bikers competed for the first time ever on Australia’s biggest mountain bike stage: April’s 2019 MTBA National Championships in Bright, Victoria. Adaptive MTB, or aMTB, is a category specifically for people with mobility issues that prevent them from riding a standard mountain bike. Many aMTB riders have been appearing at selected State and National Series events around the country for several years with the support of Break the Boundary, a not-forprofit organisation that helps open pathways to the sport for people with disabilities.
At Bright, male and female aMTB riders fought it out for an Australian jersey for the first time ever, marking a new high point for this fastgrowing sport.
Western Australian Chris Sontag beat out New South Welshman Hank Duchateau to win the inaugural men’s aMTB XCO national title, while fellow WA resident Heidi Thomas wrapped up the
first women’s aMTB XCO national crown.
The aMTB riders fought for the jerseys in a single race held on a unique 2.7km crosscountry circuit on day two of a packed four-day MTBA Nationals schedule.
Sontag grabbed the win after breaking away from Duchateau early and completing four laps, one more than his rival.
“For the first lap and half it was pretty competitive, we caught and passed each other here and there,” said Sontag. “But I managed to break away and get another lap in. It ended up being a really good race for me, I pushed hard as I could. I can’t wait to get the jersey and put it on the wall!”
Thomas, the only woman riding in the race, had no direct competition but put the hammer down anyway over her three laps to seal her first aMTB national crown.
“Even though it really wasn’t a serious competition for me, it was amazing,” said Thomas. “All the women were cheering me on at the side, everybody I’d go past was saying, ‘Wow, you’re amazing, you’re brilliant’. I loved it and I love the fact I’ve got the national champion’s jersey.” Thomas said she plans to defend her Australian jersey in 2020 and put out the call for other women to give her some serious competition next year.
“I’ll definitely be doing the nationals next year, in my jersey!” said Thomas. “I want more women to turn up so then I can say, ‘I’m the champ, are you gonna beat me or not?’.”
Sontag echoed the sentiments of his fellow national aMTB champion.
“We want the world to know there’s an aMTB category now and if you’re willing to give it a go you can do it and be a national champion,” he said. “I’m happy to race against anyone that wants to try and beat me – bring it on!
“I’m happy to pass the baton on if people are willing to give it a go. Seeing a big field of aMTB riders and having to up my game would be brilliant.”
Sontag and Thomas came away from Bright with more than just a champion’s jersey on their backs. After completing their racing they took the chance to sample some of the alpine town’s thrilling downhill trails. It was an eye-opener for the two Perth residents, who typically spend their time riding much flatter terrain.
“It was the best day I’d had since I broke my back in 2012,” said Thomas. “It was out there, absolutely amazing, I could have done it all day. I had a smile on my face the whole time!”