The Wilderness ARC
The Final Run to the Finish
Rob Howard / 31.05.2006
Aberdeen Asset Management blitzed through the long mountain bike ride on stage 8 of the race, and were the first team to reach the deep river crossing at Glenfinnan. Faced with the deep water and a rope to assist them they worked well together, stripped off to put their clothing in dry bags and dragged them across with their bikes. The swim across left them very cold, so much so Helen Jackson later told Race Director Phil Humphreys she was worried about other teams getting too cold. However, there is a bothy (hut) with a warm fire further up the track and the following teams made use of that to warm up again.
Aberdeen Asset didn’t have that luxury, but pressed on, following the route alongside Loch Arkaig to reach the start of the final paddling section which took them up the Great Glen along the length of Loch Lochy. With no tide against them now (it’s a fresh water loch), and using their sails for the first time, they arrived at Transition 9 just a few minutes after the marshals.
They set off on the final biking stage with low cloud covering the hill tops and a light rain falling, and with a big climb ahead of them. The route zig-zagged up through the forest then climbed steeply up open hillside before crossing into Glen Roy. “We carried the bikes all the way,� said Helen Jackson, “and it was a long, long climb.�
“The navigation was difficult too,� added Nick Gracie, “and some teams will have trouble with it.�
Warren Bates was not too put out by the big carry. “I think races should have hike-a-bikes in,� he said. “I’ve enjoyed the variety of riding on the course. There has been some great riding, hard climbs and a couple of carrys, which were not ridiculously long.�See All Event Posts
