Torq 12:12 - Team of 4 - 2nd :)

The August Bank holiday weekend always sees the Gorricks Torq in your sleep 12 hour mtb event held at Minley Manor in Blackwater. This year there was an added 6hr categorie which I thought was a great idea as if people were debating doing the event for 12hours and taking up all of Monday they could do the 6hr and still be home at a reasonable time sunday evening. The course at Minley is pretty flat with alot of singletrack and is based round a figure of 8 using a bridge, this year the course ran both ways over the bridge which worked well as it added a little distance to the course. I was riding the event this year as a team of 4 with Chris Minter, Ryan Keynes & Martin Turton and had heard Mountain Trax had a team of 3 Strong Elite riders and 1 Expert rider. After hearing this I knew it was going to be a tough race with our team having 1 Elite rider and 3 Expert riders. Anyway we went into the Race with a positive attitude hoping we could pull of the Win. For the 1st Lap we all decided we would send out our fastest guy so he has a clear run of the course with no traffic so it was Me from our team and Ben from Mountain Trax with a few other big names doing the 1st lap, Steve James, Billy Whenman and Jamie Newall to name a few. The Pace was high from the start with Jamie Newall and Billy Whenman setting the pace early on the first lap where this thinned out very quick leaving just myself, Ben Thomas and Steve James out front. We stayed together for 1/2 a lap before Ben realising Steve was suffering a little after having a little break from training atfer the last national and he pushed on. I went with the move and both of us were out front and were both going for the Fastest lap of the day/Hot Lap, Ben was leading coming into the arena and I just didnt have the legs to get past but still came in with the same time. I handed my band to Martin Turton who was our 2nd rider but he had some stiff competition from George Budd who put nearly 2 minutes into our team during lap 2. This didnt get much better during Lap 3 where we lost nearly a minute but our Elite rider Chris was out on our 4th lap pulling back time from Scott who was doing there 4th lap. I started my 2nd lap ahead of Ben Thomas and grew the gap putting over 1 minute into Ben during our 2nd lap giving our team over a minute lead. The lead was ours and lost for a full 12hours and came down to the last lap during the night. We both knew we had to send out our quickest rider for maximum chances to win the race so I was set to go on Lap 20. Ben Thomas was given the band over 1min 30 ahead of myself and I had all the work to do but knew closing this gap in the dark was going to be tough and it proved to be to tough with the Mountain Trax boys taking the win at just over a minute margin. What a tight fought race over 12hours between us 2 teams but it wasnt to be for us. Great result for us guys, Thanks to Chris, Martin & Ryan for racing with me. Also a thanks to Mike Keynes for the Marquee and hot water supplied :). Results Avaliable here - http://timelaps.co.uk/assets/uploads/EVENTREPORT.aspx?eventid=262MinleyManor25/08/2013#12Hr Team 4 Male Pictures Avaliable here - http://joolzedymond.com/photocart/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=1336&ingals=1&q=524 A big Thanks to Aw Cycles for the Bike, Support, Nutrition, Kit and much more. Also a Massive thanks to Strada Handbuilt wheels for the Carbon 29er wheels which make a lovely touch to an awesome Whyte 29c from Aw Cycles. :)