Race Report: British National Enduro Series - Round 2

Ten stages. 80km. 2,500m elevation. Two days. One epic enduro.

Manx MTB Enduro hosted the second round of British National Enduro Series with its marquee event, the Cycle 360 2 Day Enduro. Riders were treated to a selection of the Isle of Man’s best trails in dry and dusty condition with 5 unique stages to race each day.

More famous for other two wheeled pursuits; the TT, moto enduro legend David Knight, and sprint extraordinaire Mark Cavendish, the Island’s MTB scene was an unknown for most riders who had travelled across the Irish Sea for the event.


The ten singletrack stages were spread across five different woodland plantations, connected by gruelling climbs making for two exhausting days. Terrain ranged from the rocky and technical King’s Forest (stage 1 and 6), rough DH trails in Arrasey (2 and 9), fun flow in Kerrowdhoo (3 and 4), steep and fast Sleui Whallian (5 and 10), and physical and undulating Eairy Beg (7 and 8 ).



The variety in stages resulted in various shake-ups of positions throughout the weekend with the exception of the top spots; Joe Barnes (Hazzard Racing) and Emily Smith (Army Enduro) led the overall from start to finish to take victories with convincing margins.



Smith was followed home by an impressive ride from under 21 winner Sapphire Ascroft (SicoMTB) who took three stage wins. Third place went to Vicky Chapman (RideDrinkPie) who took the Masters class, followed home by Alice Bowen (Army Enduro) and Sam Hewitt (High Peak Cycles RT).



EWS veteran Barnes dominated the men’s event, winning eight of the stages, the most notable being a total obliteration of the field on the aptly named ‘Flat Earth’ where he showed his pedal power matches his technical skill to put 14 seconds into his nearest challenger.

The only stages not won by Barnes were the last of each day on the fast singletrack of Sleui Whallian plantation. Stage 5, the ever-popular Bear Ass was won by 14 (!) year old Isaac Batty (Orange/Cycle 360/Dingbats) and Ian Austermuhle (Hope Factory Racing) was quickest through the infamous ‘impossible corners’ to take Stage 10, Witches Tit by over 4 seconds.

Austermuhle and Fergus Lamb traded places behind Barnes throughout the weekend. A crash on the final stage for Lamb resulted in him having to settle for third, with Austermule taking second overall and victory in the Veteran class.

Lewis Ranger (Endurotyres.com) was consistent throughout the weekend to take Seniors win and fourth overall, ahead of Chris Hutchens (The Contour Collective) who had a strong second day to move up the rankings for fifth.


A mechanical on the second stage ended local star Batty’s assault on the overall podium, but it didn’t prevent him taking the under 18s win. Under 21s was taken by a strong ride from Bird Factory Racing’s Liam Clement. At the opposite end of the age spectrum Dan Bishop (Pedalabikeaway) ended the weekend victorious in Grand Vets.









The weekend was signed off with exhausted bodies and happy faces enjoying beer and burritos courtesy of event sponsors Cycle 360. Thanks to sponsors Cycle 360 and Orange Bikes and all the marshals, trail builders and first aiders for providing a great weekend.

Make a note in your diary for next year’s event which will take place 8/9 July.

Results

Full Results

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Photo Credits: MG Photography / Colette Corlett / Lee Corkill

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