The 2nd annual Bicycle Works End-to-End Mountain Bike race took place in near perfect weather conditions and at another record setting pace despite the 1/3 mile addition of East Shore Road for safety reasons.
Forty riders, some of whom represented all of the local cycling teams along with independent fun-seekers, signed up for the challenge. The peloton left Dockyard at a fierce pace and began to splinter at the cement silos. The race was further defined at Heydon Trust with Dominic Mayho leading by a minute ahead of the chase pack which included Peter Dunn, Hans Hirschi, Dexter Swan, Deshi Smith and a second chase pack which included Paul Madeiros and Checquan Richardson.
Dominic Mayho retained his lead throughout the race despite Islandstats.com capturing his tumble and set a new record of 1:42:29.
As with last year, Team Madison riders demonstrated some impressive and aggressive riding. Especially notable is the gain they made on Dunne and Swan on the Kindley Field.
When Dunne and Swan were at the BAS Kitchen Gate, the Team Madison duo was exiting the causeway. Dunne and Swan had to work hard to maintain the gap however Team Madison quickly closed it by the time Dunne and Swan reach the trail at Ferry Reach, with Team Madison entering the trail in Dunne and Swan’s shadow.
Dunne and Swan were well aware of their chasers aptitude on the road and were hedging that their experience on the Ferry Reach part of the course would widen the gap, which it did. Unfortunately, a wrong turn earlier in the race through Orange Valley on to Jubilee Road vaporized the duo’s (Madison’s) outstanding fourth and fifth place finish.
Sarah Bonnet had a fine showing finishing sixth overall. Junior rider Deshi Smith demonstrated that he is worthy of attention during this year’s mountain bike season as he finished fifth overall.
