Prochyra credits Urban Downhill win to extra training

Perth-based mountain bike rider Jordan Prochyra has erased last year’s disappointment to claim his first Albany Urban Downhill title, finishing almost four seconds clear of his nearest rival on the challenging but exhilarating course in this year’s Southern MTB event.

Prochyra finished fourth in 2015 after tiring in the closing stages of the race but he responded well by being the fastest qualifier this year and then going on to score victory in a time of 3min.13.378sec. in his final race run.

He edged out last year’s winner Jimmy Pritchard, who stopped the clock in 3:17.011, while Shane Wode filled the final place on the podium after completing the course in 3:19.300.

Having recently returned from competing at the World Cup, Prochyra said he was determined to win this year’s event.

“I was stoked to win, it was an awesome event,” he said.

“I wanted to win last year but ran out of legs.

“I have been training a fair bit recently and I’m starting to see the benefits of that.”

The 22-year-old, who was the last rider to start the final after his top qualifying effort, praised the course designers for wonderful track.

“The guys did an awesome job this year,” he said.

“They managed to get that constant downhill, coming through the backyard and down through the trees and then to have the main finish on York Street, I really enjoyed it.

“I was the last off the hill and you don’t really know how others have gone so I just went as hard as I could and I was pretty spent by the end of it, fatigue set in at the end and it became a real fitness test.”

Prochyra now has his sights set on the national downhill series before he tackles the World Cup series, which begins in April.

Star attraction and world champion Polygon downhill rider Tracey Hannah won the women’s category and finished 11th overall in a time of 3:42.461.

Bobby Cooper was the fastest Albany competitor, crossing the line in 3:54.796 to be 13th in the men’s category and 16th overall followed closely by fellow local Andy McKinnon (3:57.128).

Aaron Leagas won the under-18 division with an impressive effort of 3:29.226, which also placed him sixth overall.

Bryn Westerberg (4:07.581) and Travis Fage (4:10.941) were the other Albany riders to complete the course.