John Dodgin on Pen-Y-Ghent - Photo by Andy Holden (Full set of his photos on Flickr).
Yesterday, 25th September 2011, saw the 49th edition of the 3 Peaks Cyclocross race. The race, famed as one of the toughest event of its kind in the world is, in its current form, a 61KM race compiling climbs over Ingleborough, Whernside and Pen-y-Ghent on a tortuous circuit that involved scrambling up near vertical slopes such as Simon Fell and the more rocky ascent of Whernside before hurtling down a number of technically demanding descents to re-join the road sections that bridged between the most arduous terrain. With riders onboard cyclocross bikes and with 3 months of wet weather affecting the terrain staying onboard the bike, avoiding crashes, punctures and injuries are always at the forefront of all the rider's minds.
With much unridable terrain mixed into this race the course favours riders who are able to run/jog/grovel up steep slopes as quickly as possible whilst carrying their bikes on their shoulders combining thoses abilities with good bike handling skills and a good base of cycling fitness. Not least though competitors must be able to dig deep into their reserves, sustain as consistent a pace as possible and remain calm and composed as and when punctures and mechanicals occur.
Biketreks where represented by some familiar faces as well as some special guests for this unique event, Nic Bertrand and John Dodgin from the successful road racing team where taking on this race for the first time, with a full road season under their belts John was first to admit that he had not had the chance to train specifically for this event and our 2 road racers would have to rely on their base fitness and off-road riding experience from their past to successfully negotiate the 3 Peaks (and in Nic's case, close to none would be a good description for his off-road riding experience!)
Alongside Nic and John were Mike Wardle who works at Biketreks, Mike is a very strong ultra-marathon runner used to conquering the type of terrain with good chances to post a good time time. Also representing Biketreks was Richard Woodsy Wood, hoping to do a decent ride, Richard had prepared well for this event doing some specific training in the lead up to the race.
Last but by no means least was Biketreks' very own founder Andy Stephenson. This is a special event for Andy who has some impressive 'previous' in this event including a top 70 result in the 2010 edition. With over 20 years of off-road riding experience and a particular talent for handling a bike on the downhills Andy was always going to be in his element in a race like this.
With conditions best described as 'damp' 598 riders set off at high pace from Helwith Bridge to complete the short road section before hitting probably the most severe section of the entire course - Simon Fell. This was unbelievably steep with racers almost falling backwards off the mountain and the massive field of riders immediately thinned out into a never ending line of grovelling racers as the top racers crested the summit in thick fog whilst hundreds of riders still had to negotiate the steepest part of the fell.
Conditions over the top of Ingleborough were very demanding with high winds almost zero visibility and soft energy sapping moorland. Following a long descent to the edge of Ingleton riders turned onto a long road section past White Scar Caves before arriving at the second Peak - Whernside. By this stage in the race both Andy and Mike had forged ahead from their teamates. John wasn't too far behind passing many groups of riders as possible before the 'grovel' up the Whernside.
The climb up to the top of Whernside is almost completely un-ridable and relies on riders negotiating a series of rocky steps cut into the side of the mountain, following this competitors faced a long technical descent to the Ribblehead viaduct, with a very wet rocky track where many riders faced punctures and tumbles off the bike all the way down. It was at that this stage that John had lost count of the minor tumbles he was experiencing.
All of our riders, now spread out throughout the field, eventually joined the next stretch of road to the final and probably the most demanding ascent and descent of Pen-y-Ghent, this 3rd Peak requires riders to ride, walk, and stumble up to the top of it's peak before immediately turning back at the top to descend back down the same way they came, once at the bottom a final fast stretch of road brings the riders to the finish line.
This final ascent allows riders to see faster competitors already heading down the same track to the finish and this is the first time for most riders to suss out how teamates have performed and where they are placed. With Andy's experience coming into play he was first to descend towards the finish with Mike some 30 places behind, meanwhile with John midway up the climb as his 2 team mates passed he was able to shout encouragement before turning and heading back down himself, a massive 'over the bars moment' for John cost him precious time and positions whilst he attempted to straighten his bars but he was happy to see Richard and Nic midway up this final climb as he headed for the final tarmac stretch.
What a day, and what a race, with the Biketreks Team's 'in-house competition' being convincingly won by Andy Stephenson in a great time of 3.49.57 giving him 68th position, Mike Wardle used his running skills to good effect in 4.00.48 and has already vowed to return next year better prepared to figure at the sharp end of the race. Next in, in 4.05.02 was John Dodgin, he has already stated that he'll be uping his game for next year, he may even find the time between road races to do some specific training! Richard (4.51.01) and Nic (5.11.37) finished without incident or injury. All in all, the team were satisfied with their spread of results and team representation within this unique event. Despite the harshness of the race on the bodies, all of our riders are already planning their strategies for next year.
Full Results can found on the 3 Peaks Cyclocross Website, For up to date rider / team experiences of the 3 Peaks, Dave Haygarth's 3 Peaks Cyclocross Blog should provide links to hours of reading material and photos to get inspired from.
