Johnston Wins Australian MTB Marathon National Championship!

Johnston captured his sixth MTB Marathon national championship by outsprinting fellow Giant Australia Off-Road Team rider Scott Bowden at the line. Bowden took the silver medal, followed by Daniel McConnel in third. Two other Giant riders, Reece Tucknott and Jon Adams, finished seventh and eighth, earning Giant four top-10 placings in all.
 
After cool, wet conditions at the Pomingalara Reserve race venue the past two years, riders this year had a different challenge with warm temperatures and a dusty track. They raced three laps for a total of 89km, with a tactical battle among the frontrunners. Both Johnston and Bowden rode their Anthem Advanced 29 team bikes to earn the medals.
 
“Having raced around the Wagga circuit this past few years for marathon nationals, I knew it was going to be hard to make it anything other than a bunch race culminating in a sprint finish,” said Johnston, who wore the new Giant Rev Elite helmet. “My theory was that the only way to make it hard was to be aggressive and push in every section I could. It’s obviously a risk to race from the front but I stuck with it.”
 
By the start of the last lap, it was down to a select group of Johnston, Bowden, McConnell, Cameron Ivory and Tasman Nankervis at the front. In the closing kilometers it was down to the three podium finishers as they jockeyed for position. McConnell attacked first, but Johnston followed and made his move in the final 50 meters to take the win.
 
“I rode a really good final couple of kilometers and lined the sprint up perfectly,” Johnston said. “Crossing the line I simply felt proud of myself and my effort.”