News
World Cup MTBO
Posted: 16/04/11
MTBO World Cup Hungary -Tapoloca – Sprint//
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//The area was a derelict army camp with many buildings and a vast network of over-grown tarmac tracks. The courses gave relentless navigation with very few legs over a minute in length. The 1:5000 scale map was busy with features, but completely contour-less... but the organisers claimed a generous 9m of climb on each course.... Possibly the sum of the curbs and the small bridge. Very similar to a British event at MOD Stafford a few months back which certainly gave those who competed at Stafford an air of familiarity.//
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//The finish arena was an old athletics “stadium” which competitors rode around the edge of before finishing, giving a grandstand view, particularly and the tanks and field guns, which were used for the unusual last control.//
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//Emily Benham finished 9th despite a slight mechanical issue early in the course. Helen Clayton finished 41st. In the men's race Mark Stodgell had an impressive ride finishing 26th and Alan Hartley finished 36th on his debut in international MTBO.//
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//MTBO World Cup Hungary – Middle Distance race.//
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//On Saturday the action moved to more traditional Hungarian MTBO terrain of scrub forest and open grassland. The tracks brought fast and furious racing but required concentration on the many rutted sections.//
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//Initially controls in the forest section were straightforward, then the courses headed out into the open. As off-track riding is allowed, this section of the course brought a difficult choice of sticking to paths or cutting through the rough. To finish the courses went back through the forested section then fast downhill to the last control before the slog up through the rough long grass to the finish.//
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//Mark Stodgell finished in 47th, Alan Hartley finished in 65th. In the women;s Helen Clayton finished in 35th. Unfortunately Emily Benham's cold deteriorated overnight and sensibly she elected not to start.