The Gorrick team have worked tirelessly to establish TORQ 12:12 as one of the ‘must ride’ enduro event on the UK calendar. This weekend saw their hard work pay off, with close to 800 riders taking to the fun filled 8 mile course packed with tight twisty singletrack…
With TORQ as the title sponsor the race saw the TORQ team out in full force with elite riders Sion and Anthony O’Boyle, local Ben Thomas and TORQ fuelled, Whyte Bikes Rider, Billy Joe-Whenman entered in the Male team category. TORQ’s director Matt Hart, myself, Master rider James Gleave and guest rider Sally Gabriel were also entered into a stacked mixed team category.
At midday Sunday the race got underway with Gorrick organiser Paul leading the race out on the start loop on a quad, well, as soon as he had fought his way back to the front after forgetting to put it into gear, which prompted a big cheer from the riders and crowd! After the short start loop the quad broke off and the race got underway. It was business for usual for Ben Thomas as he took to the front to set the fastest first lap, firing the team straight into the lead with me following shortly behind, moving the mixed team straight up into second place.
With some of the new and improved sections of trail put in by the Gorrick team the course was running fantastically, so well in fact that prolific fast lapper Anthony O’Boyle a rider with a full time physical job and a somatotype better suited to hillier courses set the trail alight with a superhuman 33:50 minute lap! Even after 2 hours when the large storm swept across the course it still held up well with new and interesting lines forming every lap, leaving riders coming into transition grinning ear to ear.
With the race well underway and darkness setting in TORQ’s Male Team had worked up a solid lead to eventually go on to take the win by a full lap over AW Cycles in 2nd and Pedal-On in 3rd. The mixed team didn’t quite get the win they wanted, with some very strong competition from Team BOB, Hope and Friend’s who had held a gap over TORQ for the first 10 hours of the race. On the second to last lap, the team up into the lead by a small margin, which we held for the next two laps, but on our closing laps, much to our disappointment, the elastic eventually snapped and we were unable to respond. We eventually went on to take the silver, 1 lap up on 3rd place and a few minutes down on eventual winners BOB, Hope and friends.
This weekend, team rider Ben Thomas is heading north to compete in the Kielder 100 with some of the team also racing at TORQ’s local playground and host of the European XC Champs, Eastridge Wood’s for the final round of the Midlands XC Series.
Thank you to Joolze Dymond for the excellent photographs- www.joolzedymond.com.
As always, 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
