Burekup’s Connor Wright claims men’s title in South West’s Cape to Cape MTB event

Burekup’s Connor Wright has ensured the overall Cape to Cape MTB title will remain in the South West, emerging from the four-day stage race as the winner for the first time.

The 17-year-old entered Sunday’s final stage wearing the leader’s yellow jersey on the back of finishing second in the opening stage at Cape Leeuwin on Thursday, winning Friday’s stage in Nannup and coming third in Margaret River on Saturday.

And the rising star duly defied the pressure and a field featuring many of the country’s best mountain bikers to claim his second stage win by recording a time of 1hr 36min. 43sec. at Cape Naturaliste, 49sec. clear of eventual third-placed overall finisher Tasman Nankervis.

Wright completed the four stages in a combined time of 7:07:39, finishing just over 2min. ahead of Brett Rees, the event’s runner-up for the second year running.

He finished barely 2sec. adrift of stage one winner Rees and only 10sec. behind winner Nankervis in the third stage but was able to open up a significant buffer by cruising to victory in Nannup, finishing 74sec. clear of second-placed Rees.

Speaking after securing the title, Wright said he was delighted to see years of hard work come to fruition.

“Chasing such high-level guys that have been around the world, to compete with them and get away with a few stage wins, it’s definitely boosted my confidence a bit,” he said.

“I didn’t think it would actually come to reality. To hold it off to the last day, it’s a dream come true and I’m so happy”.

The victory continues a brilliant run of recent form for Wright, who entered the event on the back of a sixth-placed finish in the under-19 category at the Mountain Bike World Championships in Switzerland last month.

Reigning Oceania Mountain Bike Marathon Champion Sarah Tucknott claimed the open women’s title ahead of Izzy Flint and Em Viotto.