The ‘race of truth’ is a pretty cheesy tag line for a time trial – but it is also quite an honest name. Stage 5 of the Ingkerreke Commerical MTB Enduro at Alice Springs just confirmed that the current race leaders in the men’s and women’s event are the the best in the field.
Riders left the Alice Springs Golf Club at 30 second intervals in reverse General Classification order. The course had a fast start around the golf course, before easing into a sandy false flat and a loose climb. From here, it was single track for the majority of the 23km course. If you can ride it well, you’re laughing. If not, you’re cursing.
Personally, having caught my 30sec man just before the single track, I was hoping to use his great single track skills to get towed through when he passed me again. No such luck as I over braked and rode near but not on the trail far too often! Soon after Nick Both, one of my Subaru-MarathonMTB.com team mates, passed me. These two guys were out of sight pretty quickly.
The flatter, more open single track had a whole collection of riders catching each other, and this is where race leader Andy Blair passed me on his way to a 59:42 winning time. I managed 1:04:26 in the end, and actually made up a handful of seconds on my 30second man Sam Bach. Pure luck I suspect!
Behing Blair was a fast Ben Hogarth, and then Nick Both, who is storming up the GC rankings after an unlucky start to the week.
Melissa Anset. Pretty comfortable in the lead. Pretty comfortable in the single track..
Melissa Anset had another great ride in 1:12:07, putting more time into the other GC contenders. Asking about how it was, Anset said she just likes to ride the trails. Although she didn’t enjoy the opening flat sections, she find she makes up good time on the single track climbs. Sarah Holmes had a great day for 2nd place, with Subaru-MarathonMTB.com’s Naomi Hansen just seconds behind in 3rd.
And tonight – the night stage. Same riders, same course. Just a mass start and no sunlight. With such a long section of single track it may be a pretty frantic start to get into the trails first. While the trails are fun, there is a lot of rock. Passing will be tight – if not dangerous.
The results from the Stage 5 Time Trial can be viewed here.