A fast day through the desert for the fifth stage of the 2012 Mongolia Bike Challenge presented by Orbea. Leaving from the Ongi River Camp, racers rode through the African Savanna-like landscape to Guchin Us on the edge of the Gobi Desert. The Mongolian National Team rider, ‘Tugu’, flew off the front of the pack […]
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Mongolia Bike Challenge: Stages 3 & 4
Stage three of the 2012 Mongolia Bike Challenge presented by Orbea proved to be another exciting day of racing. The sun shone brightly on the long line of riders making their way through the semi-arid grasslands and pre-desert landscape. Riders faced four significant climbs over the 112 kilometer course starting in the Undur Sant Uul […]
MTB Challenge: Stage 4 and 5
Stage 4 A classic leg of the race that had us negotiate through hiking trails rife with astounding vistas. Great for those that have the ‘luxury’ to slow down and enjoy all this beauty. The better part of the peloton was better off to ride mindfully and to watch out for sudden surprises the track […]
MTB Challenge: Stage 2 and 3
Stage 2 It was a happy atmosphere on the main square of Kraliky. This and the warm temperatures, that aren’t really always true for the Bikechallenge, made for a great day. Soon Skovgaard and the BMC boys Horák and Vokrouhlík went and kept a high tempo. And knowing that the rest of the peloton isn’t […]
MTB Challenge: Prologue and Stage 1
The 2012 edition kicked off with a demanding uphill starting in the marvelous spa city of Kudowa Zdroj traversing the Table Mountains. It was mainly to score a good position for the first stage. The long lasting rainy period left its marks and traction was imperative. Odds are good that this edition of the Bikechallenge […]
TransAlp Stage 8: Alpine challenges for the unprepared
Since 2007 I have enjoyed doing a selection of races in Europe through the months of May until September. Some years it has been more, some it has been less. In 2009, I was accused of just ‘entering everything’ – and the same was said for 2010. Far from needing to race overseas to find […]
Transalp: Huber & Looser first across the line in penultimate stage
Urs Huber (SUI) and Konny Looser (SUI) have achieved their yesterday postulated goal of winning a stage on today’s seventh and thus penultimate Craft Bike Transalp stage. The defending champions of Team Stöckli mastered the 72,25 km long distance from Ponte di Legno, Italy, to Madonna di Campiglio, Italy in 3:53:34.1 hours, cementing their third […]
Transalp: Genze and Kugler take the top step on Queen stage
Hannes Genze (GER) and Andreas Kugler (SUI) clinched the queen’s stage of the Craft Bike Transalp from Livigno, Italy, to Ponte di Legno, Italy, today due to a sensational comeback and outstanding downhill skills thus repeating their 2010 victory on the same course. Team Multivan Merida Biking secured their first 2012 Transalp stage win after […]
TransAlp Stage 6: Coping with Disappointment
Incredible highs can bring tremendous lows, and Mountain Bike stage racing is able to deliver this in spades. The week has been full of drama across many categories. Stage one was wet and cold, and a flat tyre suffered by the Topeak-Ergon mens team has had them chasing the lead for days – they will […]
TransAlp Stage 5: Justification of Sacrifices
Sport, like many pursuits, involves sacrifice. Not like the multiple human sacrifices made in countries in the past. Chasing sporting dreams or goals involves sacrifices that are a little easier to comprehend, but not always easy to follow. People who pursue lofty goals are familiar with the kinds of sacrifices involved. They are not always […]