Yak Attack
Riding to Manang
Phil Evans / 15.03.2010
<b>Stage 5 - Taal to Chame 23km (1171m ascent, 209m descent)</b>A flat start through Taal soon turned tough with a rocky carry up the valley.
Some Nepali road works causing a landslide across the main track made for a hairy ascent with the river raging far below but this was easily negotiated by the local riders who took the opportunity to put some time into the rest of the field. After some steep riding up towards and through Danaqu the riders once again had to shoulder the bikes for a brutal climb through the forest before connecting with a rolling track taking them into Chame.
Ajay Pandit threw down the gauntlet today finishing in a phenomenal time of 2.35, 10 minutes faster than his closest rival and 4 hours faster than 10th placed triathlete John Williams, who once again suffered from mechanical problems.
<b>Stage 6 - Chame to Manang 30km (1239m ascent, 244m descent)</b>
Overnight rain, luckily hadn’t fallen as snow higher up but had turned the trail to mud which meant no records would fall for today’s stage.
The altitude today meant that the local riders would have the upper hand, especially on the sharp climbs before Pisang, and it wasn’t long before Ajay Pandit and Mangal Lama had opened up a lead on the rest of the field.
Aussie paraglider Phil Hystek had to stop to change his footwear after getting wet feet and fearing frostbite which enabled singlespeeder Paul Errington to leap into 5th place. A fairly flat and very muddy final 15km however suited 29'er Phil and he finally finished 5 minutes ahead of Paul.
Swedish national mountain bike coach, Andreas Danielsson and Eurovision singer Martin Stenmarck once again finished together in under 4 hours, while Andy Foers and John Williams from the UK managed to hold onto top 10 positions, finishing 33 seconds under 5 hours.
<b>Overall Results at Manang</b>
Ajay Pandit -13:35:26
Mangal Krishna Lama - 13:59:28
Kaji Sherpa - 14:45:44
Phil Hystek - 14:45:54
Chandra Chhetri - 15:20:51
Paul Errington - 18:26:17
Andreas Danielsson - 20:36:56
Martin Stenmarck - 20:36:57
Andy Foers - 27:59:31
John Williams - 29:57:33See All Event Posts
