THE PIONEER 2019
Find Welcome, Find Character, Find Stunning!
Cam and I found an abundance of each these during our debut mountain bike race this past month. Now this report is a little long, but stay with me, as it’s hard to do this event justice (or New Zealand’s Southern Alps) without discussing our experience each day.
As I wrote in my previous post (Training for the The Pioneer), Cam and I embarked on a new challenge in the second half of this year, 6 days of mountain biking through the challenging terrain of New Zealand. There would be lots of new experiences for us during the week and we felt ready for the challenge.
The lead into the Pioneer had been pretty smooth for us both, no major injuries or setbacks, which was partly due to the lighter training load we had been doing (compared to long course triathlon). The event logistics had been discussed (at length) in the weeks leading into our trip, now all we had to do was get to New Zealand, ride our mountain bikes for 6 days…… and not crash!
The trip to NZ was really smooth, we arrived on Friday night and we were lucky enough to be able to initially set up camp and Cam’s parents place in Frankton. Friday night was quick assembly of the bikes then off to bed, Saturday we were up relatively early for a quick spin around the cycle trail of Lake Wakitipu. Then off to rego. As much as the Pioneer is a big physical challenge it’s also a logistical one.
At rego, the event team check your mandatory riding gear, your additional (extreme conditions) mandatory gear, first aid kit (equipped with rescue blankets and whistle), we picked up our bike chip, GPS team tracker - all of which has to be carried with you each day and checked at the start line. Lastly we picked up our Marmot gear bag and day bag, then got to the task of making sure all of your weekly riding gear, casual gear, bike equipment, nutrition, and electronics can all fit into your one 115l bag. That bag travels with you through the week. Pack light, but pack smart.
Over the 6 days of riding, you camp each night, have 2 laundry drops through the week, have to organise your race nutrition each day (there are fantastic aid stations on course). We had also pre-purchased the daily massage and mechanical packages. With both Cam and I being pretty organised, we had discussed most of this before we left and managed to rip through it pretty well. That night we headed into Frankton for the Opening Ceremony (with a traditional, local, Kiwi welcome) and the race briefing. Tomorrow morning, everything kicked off.
Sunday morning we were up early and headed out to Moke Lake for the Prologue, a quiet location in the hills, North of Queenstown. On arrival you see the wave of orange marmot tents pitched, ready for the athletes and event staff to occupy for the week. When we got there it was a quick recce of the area, dump our gear in our numbered tents and then a spin on the bike to warm up before we set off.
Prologue: Moke Lake (26km)
Out of the 180 teams we were schedule to set of 49th. Each team would start 25 seconds apart and it’s a time trial to the finish. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. My biggest concerns overall for the week were (1) how technical each stage would be (2) how cold was I going to get? Having not ridden the prologue course I was a little apprehensive as I knew it was one of the more technical stages. I was confident Cam would set us up well from the front.
Our plan for the week was for Cam to lead most single track, technical riding and me to follow his lines and speed as much as I could (it becomes quite a skill following someone closely on trails). On the rest of the riding we’d see how we could help each other on the less technical aspects and the climbing…. Oh yeah and NO STACKS!
We were counted down from 10, 9, 8….then BANG! Literally! As we headed off it was all guns blazing, with a later start Cam was keen to pick up as many teams as we could early on, especially before the single track where it got tight and harder to pass. The start was like an all-out sprint, we caught 3 teams early on the grass section before heading on some si gle track, then hitting the steep rocky downhill. I remember looking down at the my Garmin at 3km and my HR was 185bpm. After some flowy single track down towards the Lake we were onto some cool trails in the mountain bike park, technical, and a little slippery in places. I felt like we were moving ok until a Masters team came flying past us on a downhill, rocky section, I started to realise that we might be losing more time than I thought. We kicked out of the trails at 20km and then it was a 1km pinch to the top of a hill before a fast 5km gravel descent to the finish. We finished 28th overall, not too bad, but lost much more time than I first expected to the top 15 teams. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t expect to get in the top 10 with some seriously elite riders in the field, but the time gaps were pretty solid. (1 hr 22min, average HR 178, Max HR 190).
As soon as we hit the finish, we got a quick selfie, some recovery nutrition, off to massage, then lunch - heaven!
Stage 1: Moke Lake to Arrowtown (78km)
Each evening you get a rider briefing after dinner and the daily stage awards are presented. This really gets you excited for the next day and gives you time to plan appropriate riding gear, nutrition, hydration and mandatory gear you have to carry. You also get given your start groups A-G, we ended up being one of the fastest teams starting in Group B.
Today’s stage was one we were looking forward to getting our teeth stuck into, a lot of climbing, great weather and some awesome XC and enduro trails. Essentially we were heading from Moke Lake towards Lake Hayes navigating some tough single track, punchy climbs and technical descents. Then after a canter through some scenic areas of cycle track and road its straight into a steady 10km climb to Coronet Peak, before a 15km descent on some really fun and technical trails into Arrowtown.
Loaded with our Caemelbak’s for hydration and a bottle full of calories, we set off at the front of group B. We had aimed to be pretty conservative in our effort today, but the early steep climbs and consistent power surges disnt really allow for it. It was getting the better of me early on, not in terms of energy, but by about 30km I was getting grabby hamstrings and the onset of cramps. I was super surprised as I felt good, but the consistent intensity of the riding was just a bit unlike anything I was prepared for. I managed my nutrition and hydration well and tried to spin on the hills and Cam pulled me along every flat section until we reached the aid station before the big climb. We refueled and set on our way for the final 25km. The consistency of this 10km climb really helped me find a rhythm and allowed to me to get out of the saddle quite a bit to save my hamstrings, I was feeling much better and towards the top of the climb, it was now Cam’s turn to start to feel the onset of cramps. We tried to set a steady but sustainable pace on the last few portions of the climb before we were both happy to see the top. The descent from here into the finish was amazing, a little sketchy in places, but so much fun. Again I felt like we were riding well and navigating the slippery mud and river crossings well, but when you start hearing the screeching sound of brakes behind you as you’re being hunted down by fast downhill riders, it’s quite unnerving. Regardless, I did my best to stay with Cam and we had a good run into the finish to end up 26th on the stage and move up to 25th overall (4hr 23min, 1850m elevation).
Now it was time to get stuck into our usual afternoon recovery ritual - Pizza, Nap then 1 Beer.
Stage 2: Alexandra Loop (100km) – The Queen Stage
After yesterday’s performance we had now put ourselves into the A start group and with the longest stage of the week ahead we were unsure if it was a good thing, considering our struggles on day 1. The plan was to start at the back of the group and hang on to see how we go. After a short section on gravel cycle track we quickly turned to some nice technical, flowy single track. It was quite dusty and traction was sometimes and issue for me on steep pitches, but we managed to make it to the section with a solid group of 4 other teams. It was great to be able to ride with other guys and use them as a target for setting pace early on and learn some skills along the way. As the day developed and everyone was riding on fatigued legs, and we actually started to see and feel like we were making more progress through the field against teams who has previously beaten us. There was still a solid contingent of 15 or so elite teams that were way, way up the road, but we were starting to feel more confident in the middle of the A bunch and strong physically (and we even started to show some mountain bike skills….. kind of). After some strong riding in the back half as we headed across 6 solid climbs, we grabbed a tow home on the back of a solid team who were having a bit of a rough day. We ended up 24th on the stage, and moved up to 24th overall (5 hr 42min, 2280m elevation)
Stage 3: Alexandra to Bannockburn (shortened to 60km)
On our second morning in Alexandra, the weather had taken a turn for the worst, it was wet, the wind was blowing and the temperature had dropped – it was mandatory gear time for the first time this week. This meant that we were layered up with undershirts, bib set, arm warmers, knee warmers, rain jacket, beanie and full finger gloves. We were confident heading into the stage, although I was a little concerned about getting cold. The stage was slightly shortened to bypass the top of the mountain range, where overnight they had snow and the temperatures had dropped.
The first portion of the stage was on gravel cycle track, we decided to try and get a free ride on the front of the A bunch as long as we could to get us in a good position before the technical stuff started, we had gone well the day before and were ready to give it a go a bit further up. Due to all the rain the track was sodden, it was hard to see as all the gravel and mud was flicking up and teams fought for position. I followed Cam and just held position as best I could (dodging a few gates we had to navigate), aiming to stay upright too! It turns out our start tactic was solid and one we’d employ the rest of the week. It was amazing to experience how that big effort at the start to make the break, made a big difference. The start was much more like road racing than I expected.
After the gravel track section we hit the road and headed across the Dam over the Clutha River and were in the front pack of the split A group. From there we locked into our rhythm as we headed on the climb towards the Fraser Dam, towards Bannockburn. This is where the elite riders disappeared. The terrain here was all 4WD track and with the rain, it was essentially a sloppy, muddy mess. With wet grass, big puddles, a river crossing and flowy descents to contend with, I was certainly wary about staying upright while also trying to push on and do well on the stage. It’s in these situations that Cam and stuck to what we were best at. As a team you had to stay within 2 minutes of each other at all times, which is not a lot when riding up mountains and in mud. As it turned out we were very lucky that our strengths allowed us to perfectly be within this range quite easily, Cam would descend these areas quicker than me and I’d make ground back up on the hills and this would play out most of the week. This was definitely one of our strongest team assets, as other teams who had quite different abilities over varied terrain, climbing/descending/fitness levels, often found themselves getting further apart and having to wait.
As we hit the top of the last climb before the final descent into Bannockburn I was frozen! I couldn’t feel my hands or feet by this point, but the slog through the mud had actually been quite enjoyable. The 10km decent was a bit sketchy in the rain as most of the track was either wet mud, puddles or slippery grass, some with rock underneath - losing your front wheel was a definite possibility. I was pretty confident on most of it, but some of the tighter corners I was losing a lot of speed to try and be safe. In my head I was staying – ‘stay upright as it’s the quickest way to the bottom’. Just as we were heading into the final km’s of the downhill, we crested a short uphill section before two rolling downhills. Before the second one I lost my front wheel in some mud and went down! It happened so quick, but luckily the landing was soft and my bike was fine. I was straight back up, Cam had waited at the next corner as he heard me shout, but was unaware I went down. We hit the bottom of the hill safely and onto the road before the short undulating stretch into the finish. Wow – what a stage. New we felt like real mountain bikers. Wet, cold, caked in mud and even a stack.
** It’s important to note hear how amazing the event logistics and set up was for the The Pioneer. As we crossed the finish line, the mobile showers were set up and an awesome volunteer was there with a hose and hot water to wash us down before we hit the showers – it was the best feeling ever!**
We wheeled our filthy bikes off to the mechanic team who washed, cleaned and prepped our bikes for the next stage as they did every day, and tucked into our Pizza and Beer. We finished 19th overall and moved up to 23rd (2hr 49min, 800m elevation).
Stage 4: Bannockburn to Banockburn (shortened to 62km)
After yesterday’s stage I knew we were ready for anything. Now a stable addition to the A group, the plan was to get out hard again. It’s amazing that by this point we felt really confident being there and being competitive with some of the teams around the top 20. We were still looking better as the week went on, others were fatiguing and our fitness was showing, plus I think the similarity in our ability was working very well compared to some teams who had one stronger rider.
As with the previous day, today’s stage was shortened marginally due to the cold temperatures and snow fall over night, but we would still get up quite high so we wore our warm weather gear again. We started on the road beforeheading on a loop that was a undulating gravel section (which we both overcooked a corner and nearly went into the bushes on the way down) then it was a steep climb on 4WD track to the top of Hawksburn Road. It was then onto the 10km descent that we had finished with the previous day (yes the one I stacked I on). I was slightly concerned about the state of the track after yesterday but the temperature was a lot better today, the sun was out and the track was much drier (I actually stopped at the top of the first hill to remove my beanie as I was too hot). Cam and I managed to tackle the descent unscathed. As we hit the first aid station we were informed that due to cold weather we were heading back out the same direction and completing the loop we just did again. Cam and I jumped onto the back of the lead masters Men’s team who were riding with the lead Women’s team at the time and got a ride on the road back towards the start of the loop. As we knew the loop already and we weren’t going to go up high I removed my jacket (which is hard when you’re wearing a Camelbak and riding) - we got ready for lap 2. Confident of knowing the terrain, Cam and I pushed on to drop the two teams and headed back up the hilly section. Knowing that I may likely be slower than Cam on the downhill, I pushed on up the hill to get a lead before the 10km descent again. To my surprise the track now become quite dry and I was feeling much more confident. I was careful on the corners but pushed on through the flatter rocky sections. I could see Cam was descending with the lead Masters Team and knew they’d all get down faster than me. As we hit the aid station at the bottom I was still marginally ahead and Cam had pushed on and was solo ahead of the others. We hit the road and time trialed hard to the finish.
We ended up 18th on the stage and remained 23rd overall (13th in Open Men). By this stage of the event time gaps were quite large between teams so making big jumps was hard, but we were really pleased to be improving every day.
Stage 5: Bannockburn to Queenstown (73km)
It’s hard to believe that the final day had arrived, we’d been out there for over 17 hours so far this week and still had the 73km run into Queenstown to go. So far this week we’d had some highs and lows, a lot of laughs and met some amazing people. We’d experienced some of the most amazing and varied trails I could have ever imagined riding, I thought we were prepared for anything – How wrong I was!
The best way I can describe it to people is - imagine you have run 5 road races in consecutive days, then on the 6th day they give you an uphill cross country race! This is how stage 5 felt, it was brutal!
It was definitely the highlight of my week. Not because I rode well, or because we finished in an unbelievable position, BUT it was the hardest trails and for that matter the hardest ride I have ever done, mentally and physically. We would make our way through the Nevis Valley on some very remote trails, and as I rode I couldn’t help but really appreciate the beautiful landscape of New Zealand’s countryside. Don’t be fooled though, while admiring this beauty I was grovelling the hardest I have ever grovelled on a bike! We started the stage with an 11km gravel road climb, which was the first of our 4 major climbs for the day. After 5 days of riding this was tough and as we got higher the temperatures dropped and the wind blew harder. At points I was riding sideways to not get blown off my bike. At 8.5% average, this climb took over an hour and in hindsight, this was the easiest part of the day………
As we made our way through the valley it was clear that we would essentially be riding on what can only be described as ‘goat track’. Lots of rutted ground or 4WD track in most places, except the tracks were over a foot deep in some places so there was limited space to ride at times. The terrain was either thick or rutted mud, loose gravel or rock and was so hard on the body. It was difficult to find a rhythm, get traction at times, but it was very character building ploughing through the tough terrain (this is what we signed up for, right!) Cam was smashing it through this section, I kept plugging away as we made our way over the next 3 climbs. We hit the top of the final climb at 40km, I looked down and saw we had averaged 12kph over the last 3 hours and change??? By the time we completed the final technical, rocky descent it was 27km to the Queenstown finish. This was all on gravel cycle track, but with some tight turns and flooded sections it was still tough going. We planned to empty the tank as much as possible and ride strong all the way home. The final km of the stage headed up a steep track into the airport and to the finishing chute. It was like my first Ironman all over again. Such elation to hit that finishing area, and sharing it with Cam. We finished the final stage in 19th and moved up to 21st overall (4hr 23min, 2400m elevation).
THANKS!
It’s almost too hard to sum up all you want to say about the event as I’m always going to feel like I missed some crucial details out. What I can say is that I definitely found welcome, stunning, but most of all character throughout the week. After 22 hours of some of the toughest riding I’ve ever done I was really proud to step outside my comfort zone, have a crack at something new and keep pushing my physical and mental boundaries.
Thanks to my team leader and mate Cam from Squareone Physio. Part of the adventure of mountain bike riding, camping, stage racing, is sharing it with others and the team format makes the week that much more enjoyable. Our pain, our glory, our beer was shared and not once did I ever feel like throwing in the towel, and that’s a big thanks to Cam for his support and friendship.
Thanks to The Pioneer and the event team for an amazing week, its one of the most memorable experiences Ive had in 25 years of endurance racing.
Thanks to Giant Sydney for the epic bike and setup, the Anthem Adv Pro 29er definitely made up for areas which I lacked as a mountain biker.
Thanks to SiS Australia, with Beta fuel and gels I nailed my nutrition through the week and only got stronger as the event went on.
Finally, thanks to my family for letting me do what I love and giving me the time to get away for a week and ride my bike xxx Can’t wait for the next one.
All Photos: Sportograf
