Margam Park played host to round 4 of the British Mountain Bike Race Series. Located in the valleys of South Wales it is a course with a reputation for its tough sustained climbing (nearly 450 meters per lap!) and it’s off camber slippery descents, designed to separate the mountain bikers from the racers.
Arriving at the venue on Saturday the team were greeted with drizzle and limited visibility, with a course that looked set to be a slippery, muddy mess. Even during practice the technical sections of the course were littered with bikes and bodies as riders did there best to stay upright. When race day finally dawned the weather had taken a turn and we were greeted with bright blue skies and temperature in the high twenties! Lee Craig TORQ’s elite female rider was the first off. As a rider blessed with excellent technical skills and good climbing legs the course suited her strengths perfectly and with a few of the full time pro riders not in attendance Lee was a definite contender for the podium. After riding an excellent first 3 lap’s close to the front of the field, disaster struck when she caught a sharp rock that ripped the sidewall of her tire resulting in her having to roll back to the pits, incredibly disappointed and contemplating what could have been.
The male elite race was the highlight of the day, with the sun beaming down the course quickly began to dry out giving some fast and furious racing. The extreme heat turned the race into a war of attrition with many riders simply unable to cope, including TORQ’s Ben Thomas. The O’Boyle brothers fuelled by TORQ’s performance nutritional products and some strong sibling rivalry, together worked there way to the front of the field until Sion pulled a gap on Anthony to cross the line in an excellent 7th position a short way down on multiple Olympians and national champions, Anthony also finished very well a short time down in 9th place. An excellent result for both!
Next weekend many of the team are heading to North Yorkshire for the National XC Champs and onto Bontrager 24/12 the weekend after.
Once again, a huge thank you to our sponsors.
www.konaworld.com – Frames
www.shimano.com – Drivetrain & Brakes
www.limarhelmets.com – Helmets
www.ritcheylogic.com – Handlebars, Stems, Saddles, Seatposts & Grips
www.max-mediagroup.co.uk – Team PR
www.schwalbe.com – Tyres
www.champ-sys.com – Performance Cycle Clothing
www.mojo.co.uk – Fox Suspension Forks
www.exposurelights.com – Advanced Lighting
www.juicelubes.co.uk – Lubrication
www.lakecycling.com – Shoes
www.jagwireusa.com – Cables & Housing
www.crankbrothers.com – Pedals, Multi tools & pumps
www.rapidracerproducts.com – Neoguards.
www.cleecycles.com – KCNC Chains, Skewers & Bottom Brackets
www.superstarcomponents.com – Hubs, Seat Clamps & Headsets
www.sapim.be – Spokes
www.handcraftedwheels.co.uk – Hand Built Wheels
www.fibrax.com – Brake Hardware
www.joolzedymond.com – Photography
www.cycleops.com – Power Measurement, Turbo Training & Bike Racks
www.notubes.com – Tyre Sealant & Rims.
www.nomad-direct.co.uk – Nomad Cordless Pressure Washing
www.finelytunedride.co.uk – Bike Maintenance & Servicing
Follow the TORQ Performance MTB team’s progress on their facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/TORQ-Performance-Mountain-Bike-Team/110217305676815
