Catherine Williamson, winner of the 2013 GENCO Mongolia Bike Challenge has announced that she will return to Mongolia in 2014 to defend her title.
After years of triathlon and road racing, Catherine has cemented her place as a highly successful mountain bike stage racer. 2013 was an impressive year on the dirt for her which started with a win (with Partner Yolanda Speedy) at arguably the toughest and most competitive MTB stage race of them all, the ABSA Cape Epic in South Africa. She followed that up with a solid 15th place finish at the UCI Marathon World Championships in Austria and convincing wins at the Sudety MTB Challenge in Poland and the GENCO Mongolia Bike Challenge.
Yolande Speedy and Catherine Williamson, the leading ladies team, on stage 3 of the 2013 Absa Cape Epic
Photo by Karin Schermbrucker/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
Mongolia and the race were more than Williamson expected, “The Genco MBC far exceeded my expectations. I knew the experience would be unique, visiting a new country and meeting new people and I was looking forward to that but I did think the riding would be quite same-ish, I thought we would be riding on flat open barren tracks for a week but I was amazed at how different each day was. A few days we were in an almost mountainous area, another day we rode in an area which was just like at home in the forest and the wet and towards the end we were on endless open rolling hills passing wild horses and camels.”
Cath Williamson Stage winners hat. Photo © Mike Blewitt
“One thing that was so different than any other race I have done was the remoteness. A few times I found myself alone with no one for miles in front and no sign of anyone behind. The silence at these points was something I’ll never forget and like nothing I have experienced before. With so few riders there was also a family feel to the race from Rob with his micro phone getting everyone together to everyone individually called up to receive their finishers jersey. I have never done any stage race like that and that made the MBC so special.”
Williamson cuts an unmistakable position in the bunch. Photo: Erik Peterson
Catherine spent a lot of time in the lead groups during the 2013 GENCO MBC and earned a lot of respect amongst her fellow racers:
“She’s a character both in the integrity and wit sense. Clearly she was there for a result and was focused on it, but not to a “fault”. She marveled at the country, the terrain, the opportunity we had in life to enjoy these experiences, and not once did I hear a negative comment.” Erik Bakke, 2013 GENCO MBC 2nd Place – Masters 1
“Catherine has a tough head. She’s a tough girl who can roll with the punches and doesn’t get fazed by the unexpected in Mongolia. She’s also very calm and reserved, saving her energy for out on the course when it matters instead of worrying about the little things.” Cory Wallace, 2012 & 2013 GENCO MBC Champion
What does 2-time GENCO MBC Champion Cory Wallace think of Catherine’s chances at the GENCO Mongolia Bike Challenge in 2014?
“I think her chances are great in 2014. She is super-strong and now has the experience of racing in Mongolia to go with it. I don’t think there are too many women in the world that could compete with her over there.”
Catherine Williamson comes in to seal her GC win. Photo © Erik Thompson
And what are Catherine’s thoughts on returning to Mongolia in 2014?
“I am already excited about returning in 2014. I have been promised an extra night in my favourite camp and the route sounds as if it’s going to be even more varied than last year. Of course I’ll go out there and race as best as I can, whether that means a win or not is unknown but I’ll try hard for it.”
The next edition of the GENCO Mongolia Bike Challenge will take place from August 30 to September 8, 2014, entries are still open online.