Andalucia Bike Race kicks off tomorrow in Cordoba Spain and Mountain Trax – Vauxhall Motors Cycling Team are in town reporting for MarathonMTB.com. Andalucia Bike Race enters its third year with popularity growing fast, its impressive to see the race sell out so quickly, and to see such a varied number of nationalities in attendance.
The number of Brits has swelled with top riders in attendance like Gareth Montgomerie and Dave Henderson who finished top 10 last year, Seb and Hamish Batchelor (Seb was 2nd overall in the National XC Series last year), Rich Rothwell and Ant White, Matt Page and Melaine Alexander, and of course top Marathon racer Sally Bigham who’s racing with German Milena Landtwing.
Myself and Tim will also be chasing for some UCI points and prize money (hopefully) but there’s 6 hard days of racing and as I found out here last year anything can happen. A smooth journey out here yesterday was only slightly delayed by the light snow fall and the aeroplane having to be de iced before take-off! Bikes were quickly assembled on arrival with Tim doing his best not to cover the hotel conference suite in tubeless sealant.
Build time for Tim Dunford – in the hotel of course.
After a buffet breakfast where many of the rider (but not us) tucked into the table of delicious looking cakes Tim and me went to pre ride some trails, the ride for me was cut short following a little mechanical that the guys at Sram tech support quickly had fixed.
Lots of cakes on offer for breakfast!
The race begins tomorrow from Cordoba city centre finishing 72kms and 1550 metres of ascent later at the official race race paddock of Ayre Hotel Cordoba. You can follow live timing on www.andaluciabikerace.com and we’ll have more updates for you as the week continues.