Today the pecking order was set. All those vascular legs you’ve been looking at over the past few days come out to play in the man on man battle around the British Columbia forests. Today was tough, two major climbs, oodles of singletrack but the main player today was the heat. In 35’+ temperatures there was more than a few that succumbed to the heat.
Check out the Stage One Press Release here.
Let’s briefly talk about who’s here. There are 600 athletes representing 24 countries. 86% are males with the average age being 40. 61% have chosen to race it alone, with the remainder in teams. There is 200 race support crew looking after all the racer’s needs. From on track support and feeding to showers, toilets and feeding time at the zoo. This event is a big operation!
Highpoint
I have no idea what trail it was but there was one out there today that just keeps me pumped to get back out there tomorrow. It has berms and jumps, it felt as if the faster you went, the smoother it was, popping and scrubbing from one lump to the next!
Tomorrow we’ve got another 1094 metres of climbing over 52km’s. The temperature has cooled off a little as I type, so let’s hope it says this way!
Low point
On the second major climb of the day, I was out of all fluids, the sun was beating down and I had to roll off the gas just to make the feed zone at the top.
Google says: Powell River
Where endless green mountains meet sheltered Pacific Ocean waters, Powell River provides a stimulating blend of outdoor adventure and cultural amenities.
Originally founded as a resource extraction centre – once home to the world’s largest pulp and paper mill – Powell River now offers water lovers countless opportunities for kayaking and canoeing, fishing, and scuba diving. Don’t miss Marine Avenue’s art galleries and dining, plus the historic, planned Townsite, designated a National Historic District in 1995.
The city (pop. 12,957) is located on the upper Sunshine Coast, about 145km/90mi northwest of Vancouver. It’s accessible by ferry from Vancouver Island, or from Earl’s Cove while driving up from Gibsons or Sechelt. The black-tailed deer of Texada Island and the white, sandy beaches of Savary Island await via a short ferry ride or water taxi ride.