TORQ Performance Team riders and brothers Sion and Anthony O’Boyle last weekend headed to Wentwood Forest for the TORQ fuelled Goshawk Challenge, a grueling 50km enduro around the fantastic trails on offer in this lesser know woodland. Here’s Sions view from the front…
With our last cross country race held in less than pleasant conditions, this weekend saw a complete contrast with the sun blazing and very mild temperatures for early March. The course incorporated the best trails on offer in the Wentwood forest with plenty of technical singletrack linked together with the odd forest track.
It was a mass start event with close to 400 entrants all setting off on a short road section before joining onto some fantastic singletrack. After not having the best start I spent the first part of the race working my way through the field to catch my brother Anthony who had, had a much better start. Shortly after joining him we pushed hard and formed a gap over the rest of the field, accompanied by 12 hour MTB endurance specialist Simon Smith, a previous winner of the event.
After just short of 20km Anthony had a mechanical, snapping his chain, but after a quick stop and check I was told to crack on, with the plan being that he would try and chase back once he got his chain sorted. By this time Simon had left us and begun building a gap on us, so I quickly set off in pursuit. I chased hard and caught his shortly after, we then stayed together until just before the 25km check point where I got a small gap on him, which was quickly lost after stopping at the first check point to refuel, where Simon caught me up again and off we went for a further 25km.
After some more jostling for positions and a slight mechanical with a few kilometer to go, I nursed my bike to the finish to cross the line first, setting the fastest time of the day, 50km in 2hours 40min. Shortly followed by brother Anthony, a great result to get the season underway.
Thanks to Roy Bevis for the photographs. http://www.flickr.com/photos/26069260@N04/
Once again, a huge thank you to all our sponsors;
www.whytebikes.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.srsuntour-cycling.com – SR Suntour 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
www.cleecycles.com – KCNC Skewers & Bottom Brackets
www.sapim.be – Spokes
www.stradawheels.co.uk – Wheel Builder
www.joolzedymond.com – Photography www.lezyne.com – Bottle Cages, Tools, CO2 and pumps. www.dare2be.com – Casual Clothing
www.cycleops.com – Power Measurement and Turbo Training
www.notubes.com – Tyre Sealant, Rims & Hubs.
Follow the TORQ Performance MTB team’s progress on their Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/TORQ-Performance-Mountain-Bike-Team/110217305676815
And Twitter
www.twitter.com/TORQfitness
