Young Gun Tucknott Impresses in NZ
WAIS athlete and current Under 17 National Mountain Bike Champion Reece Tucknott was invited to join the National U19 MTB Worlds long team and selected U17 boys on a trip to New Zealand.
The invite was through Chris Clarke the National Sporting Director for Mountain Bike Australia (MTBA) with the aim of giving the U17 boys their first taste of international competition, as well as being self sufficient and working as a team.
The boy’s objective was to compete in the two biggest Road Race junior tours in NZ as well as complete a Mountain Bike Camp in the awesome trails of Rotorua.
The first Road Race tour was in Hamilton for the “Te Awamutu Sports Junior Tour” over three days of Easter. There were 70 starters in the U17 boys alone. After four stages and 178 kms of racing Reece Tucknott ended up third overall on GC and second in KOM points. He was also voted most aggressive rider for the tour.
The MTBA team then travelled to Rotorua to hone their skills on the world renowned mountain bike trails in the hills above the town. MTBA coaches Greg Meyland and Dave Signor had specific skills sets and simulations for the team to complete. The boys also rode the “Oceania’s XC track” and had the experience of a lifetime.”
A two day road race tour called the “CRI Junior Tour” was the next focus. This one had 68 starters in the Under 17 boys division. Tucknott started off strong breaking away half way through the second lap of a hilly four lap 60 km race. One other boy went with him and they worked together for one and half laps until the other rider popped.
Tucknott then rode the last lap solo, but was caught 50 meters before the finish line and only managed sixth place.
Later that afternoon they lined up for the individual Time Trial. The coaches were unsure how Tucknott would go due to the massive energy expenditure in the first race, but they need not have worried, as he went out and won the time trial and now sat in second overall in GC.
The next day had a Criterium and another 60 km road race. Unfortunately for him the Kiwi’s were now wide awake to his constant attacks and they had formed a team to look after their leader. So every attack Reece made was chased down by the Kiwi team, meaning Tucknott couldn’t improve his place and ended up second on GC and most aggressive rider again.
This was a fantastic experience for all of the Australian boys, especially for the Under 17 boys for their first International trip.