Italian National cup round 2

Hi All,

I'm currently practicing for the Italian National cup here in Italy this weekend. Here is a video of practice.

Cheers
Rhys

Junior Sportsman of the year awards

before I left to go overseas, I was nominated for a Sports Star of the year awards. My parents went to the formal awards night last Saturday night. I'm happy to say that I won and I am now the junior sports star of the year. This is the second year in a row, So I'm stoked.

Cheers
Rhys

The photo is mum accepting my award.

Leogang Qualifying

Hi All,

Qualifying didn't go so well this weekend. I noticed everyone was crashing in practice. It had been raining hard for most of the weekend, and the track was muddy and slushy. So I decided I would take it easy in qualifying. I thought whoever can make it down the hill without crashing, would finish in the top 80 and qualify. I made it down alright without crashing but I made a big mistake. I didn't go hard enough and I ended up in 86th spot. Not going to make that mistake again.

I didn't have any problems with my arm all week. It looks like its healed up nicely. One thing I did notice is that my arm is still a bit weak, so I'll be building it back up before the next world cup in 4 weeks time. My fitness was also suffering a bit, plus riding in the mud made me realise that alot quicker.

So my plan now is to put in the training and work on building up my arm... Can't wait for the next world cup.

Cheers
Rhys

Heres a pic of be before qualifying. I only wish I had a moto to ride in that mud.

Leogang Track Walk!

Hi All,

Here are some pics from the track walk today.

I'm the one wearing the Unit clothing and blue Unit hat..

Cheers
Rhys

Leogang World Cup

Hi All,

Just got the good news that my broken arm is now fixed and I'm looking forward to racing my first world cup in Leogang, Austria next weekend.

I've been out of action now for 6 weeks, with only being able to ride some cross country and a stationary bike for training. It felt so good to get back on my mountain bike on Monday and ride a real downhill track again. On Friday my team mate George and I headed up to Leogang to spend a week training on the world cup track. I'm hoping to know this track inside out by the time the world cup teams turn up in the next 5 days.

The pressure has been put on me for this race, as I've just found out that I need to produce a top ten result if I want to make the Australian team this year. If I don't make the team, this will be the first time in 2 years that I haven't represented Australia at the World Championships. After breaking my femur 6 months ago and now my arm, its going to be a big ask, but I love a challenge, and this could be just what I needed to push all the limits to achieve my goal of riding for Australia again.

To help me try to achieve my goal, Ancillotti racing team have built me a new frame pacifically for this world cup in Leogang. Its a longer lighter frame which will help me go faster on a track like Leogang. The track is fast and technical and the longer frame will hold the speed needed to get down the course in the quickest time. Here is a pic of me holding my new frame.

Update:

Hi All,

Well all is good. I started riding again on Monday. My arm feels good and no pain whatsoever.

George and I will be driving up to Leogang (Austria) on friday. We will stay there for 7 days practicing on the world cup track. I have one race to get it right to make the Australian team for this years world champs in Canada.

Its all or nothing at the Leogang world cup in 2 weeks from now.

Will update after qualifying in 2 weeks from now.

Cheers
Rhys

Another Injury Update!

Hi All,

Well I'm here in Fort William, Scotland with my team.

Unfortunately, I will be watching from the sidelines. I went to the doc after Maribor and xray's showed that I needed another 20 days for my arm to heal. The 20 days are up on the day of the finals here in Fort William. I chose not to risk it, and will wait until Leogang to make a come back. This will give me two weeks of training once we get back to Italy.

Just to add some more pressure, I have to get a top 10 in Leogang if I want to make the Australian Team this year. I missed the cut back home in Australia this season, because I was out with a broken femur. Thanks to the broken arm, I now have to give everything I've got in Leogang. It's hard to make the Australian team because we have so many talented riders. I believe that if I can pull off a result like I did in Maribor (13th) last year, then I can be in with a chance. My fitness may let me down but I've always enjoyed a challenge. So bring it on!!!!!!!

Cheers
Rhys

Injury Update!

All is going well with my broken arm.
I got the cast off last week and 30 something stables taken out.
The news so far is that I should be right to ride again 3 days AFTER Maribor world cup. Still sucks that I'm going to miss Maribor but at least I will be right for Fort William.

Cheers
Rhys

Bad News: Won't be racing Maribor world cup.

Hi All,

Yep, got some more bad news. As if breaking my femur and hand 7 months ago wasn't enough, I've now broken my arm.

I had been in Italy for 6 days when we were doing some test runs on our Ancillotti bikes. Just got to the last run of the day when I was near the bottom of the hill, coming around a berm, my arse end slid out and down I went. As I put my arm up to get back up and on the bike, my team mate came around the berm and accidentally run over my arm.

The end result was two broken bones just above the wrist. I spent 3 days in hospital having surgery to pin my arm back together. Tomaso Ancillotti made sure he got me the best surgeon in Florance. The surgeon did a great job but the scariest thing was being awake while they screwed my arm bad together. I did manage to sleep through 3/4 of the operation though...lol

The good news is I will only be out for 4 weeks. The bad news is that I will miss Maribor, and I've been looking forward to this race since finishing 13th there last year.

I've had my fair share of bad luck over the last 7 months, and now its time for me to go through another 2 years without another injury. *fingers, arms, legs crossed*

Here is a pic of me in a cast. The Italians are really looking after me by giving me a manicure....lol

Team Ancillotti in Italy

Here is a photo of George and I in our new racing gear.