Bermuda was proudly represented at the demanding 24 Hours of Summer Solstice mountain bike festival and relay, held just outside Toronto, Canada. The island's team, aptly named "Older than Dirt" – comprising James Holloway, Curtis Mitchell, Ian Port, Craig Ferguson, and Chris Nusum – showcased remarkable endurance and teamwork in the five-person Age Group 200-249 (Average 40s) category.
Racing a challenging 17.3km loop, the quintet rotated riders in the order of Nusum, Mitchell, Ferguson, Port, and Holloway. They battled through both day and night, enduring the gruelling demands of a full 24 hours on the trails to finish an impressive 6th in their category. Their final time of 24 hours, 53 minutes, and 55 seconds (24:53:55) highlighted the incredibly tight competition, with them finishing just 4 seconds behind 5th place and a mere 16 seconds ahead of 7th after a full day of riding.
Team captain James Holloway vividly described the relentless nature of the event: “We had about 4 hours between finishing one lap and starting the next, but by the time you’ve cooled down, eaten, checked over your bike, sat down and thought about life… It was time to get ready to race again. Total sleep time was maybe 1.5 hours spread over the whole 24 hours!”
With over 2,500 riders competing in various formats – solo, duo, quad, and larger teams – the 24 Hours of Summer Solstice is a true test of endurance, strategic teamwork, and a celebration of mountain biking spirit. Bermuda's "Older than Dirt" team certainly embodied that spirit, delivering a highly commendable performance against a deep international field.
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