Jenny Blair should be racing in the Oceania Mountain Bike Championships in Toowoomba this weekend, but decided a babysitter is cheaper than a flight to Queensland. <\/p>\n
Instead the Canberran will compete in her back yard on Friday at the Oceania Road Championships, to be raced on the Cotter Uriarra loop. <\/p>\n
Blair hails from Ireland where she won a national mountain bike cross-country marathon title, a feat she matched in Australia, and is looking forward to racing on a familiar route on Friday. <\/p>\n
\"I'm trying to get back to that elite fitness and I ride the loop twice a week so it's very familiar. It's called extras to the locals because it's the extra loop after brunch on Saturday,\" Blair said. <\/p>\n
\"However it's three laps on Friday which is about 100km, so that's a lot different to training over it once, but there's no expectation on me and I'm just happy to get to the start line. <\/p>\n
\"There are some really good riders in strong teams and I'm riding by myself, so I just need to be smart and sometimes it's just luck, other times you need the fitness to follow the moves.\" <\/p>\n
After giving birth last year, Blair is getting back into the competitive swing of things and said she simply couldn't pass up racing in such a prestigious event so close to home. <\/p>\n
\"I'm a mountain biker but I still ride most mornings with the Canberra Cycling Club. I'm racing on Friday because it's on my doorstep, that and and a babysitter is cheaper than flying to Toowoomba,\" Blair said. <\/p>\n
\"My fitness is good considering I haven't raced over the summer and that my 10-month-old dictates my training, but he comes along in the back seat sometimes.\" <\/p>\n
Women's favourite is Lucy Kennedy took out the individual time trial on Thursday after negotiating a difficult course at Tidbinbilla National Park. <\/p>\n
The 28-year-old National Capital Tour yellow jersey winner admitted she was surprised when drug testers told her they needed a sample. <\/p>\n
\"The drug testers came along and said 'you've won, now come and get tested', I guess that was my prize,\" Kennedy laughed. <\/p>\n
\"It was a big surprise because I didn't think I'd gone that well. It's a hard course and it's never a good feeling coming off, but I descended really well and I climbed well so it all just came together,\" Kennedy said. <\/p>\n
Sean Lake took out the men's time trial on Thursday with the teams event to be raced on Saturday. <\/p>\n
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Original post: <\/p>\n
Mountain bike champ Jenny Blair hitting the road for Oceania Championships - The Sydney Morning Herald<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Jenny Blair should be racing in the Oceania Mountain Bike Championships in Toowoomba this weekend, but decided a babysitter is cheaper than a flight to Queensland. Instead the Canberran will compete in her back yard on Friday at the Oceania Road Championships, to be raced on the Cotter Uriarra loop. Continue reading