Tasman chases titles quadrella

VICTORIOUS in the past three editions of Victoria’s elite men’s cross-country final, Bendigo mountain bike star Tasman Nankervis returns to Black Hill in Ballarat this Saturday to defend his title.

Nankervis, 27, will be chasing a rare feat of four consecutive state championship wins.

“Black Hill is one of my favourite courses,” Nankervis said.

A year ago it was the Nankervis brothers, Tasman and Russell who were first and third at Black Hill.

The state XC race will play a key role in Tasman’s build-up to the Lifetime Grand Prix in the United States.

“It’s a seven-round series of gravel and mountain bike racing,” he said of being selected in a field of 35 to compete from late April until late October.

“It’s a huge race calendar that I am looking forward to.

“This series is the biggest of its kind in the world and aimed at deciding the ultimate cyclist from gravel and mountain biking backgrounds.”

Racing on gravel and mountains is what Nankervis did a lot in 2022.

“There were a lot of highlights last year. I was rapt with my consistency at national titles in four disciplines,” he said.

Championship results were 15th in the elite men’s road race national championships at Buninyong near Ballarat, 2nd at marathon mountain bike, 3rd at gravel, and 4th at cross-country MTB.

Nankervis racks up between 15 and 20 hours training on the bike each week.

A lot of work is on the road, but also on the purpose-built loops and pump track at Bendigo Mountain Bike Club’s base in Spring Gully.

“In the past year I have done a lot more running, swimming and gym,” Nankervis said. “It’s more about being an all-round athlete, not just a bike rider.”