Yak Attack
Ups and Downs on the Way to Gorka
Phil Evans (Extreme World Challenges) / 09.03.2011
For the third successive day the race started with a major climb. 18km of broken tarmac and dusty trail with a 600m altitude gain confronted the riders as they made their way towards Nepal’s former capital, Gorka. Thankfully, after yesterdays high temperatures (recorded on one participants bike computer as 41c!) there was some cloud cover today and rain even threatened early on but with the cumulative climbing mounting up it still had the riders toiling.
The first casualty of the day happened when a local knocked Chandra Chhetri of his bike, causing him some serious road rash, but the tough Nepali Yak Attack stalwart remounted and managed to complete the race in 7th place.
Once over the first climb a fast and flowing 6 km descent awaited the riders, which later prompted UK mountain biker Mike McCabe to tell the organises that it "Had been the best day of mountain biking he had ever had".
The descent took the riders to the lowest point of the entire course at 335m (the highest point being 5416m) and from here another tough ascent commenced. Steep switchbacks and soft sand raised temperatures as well as the cloud breaking, but the views from the top of the climb, looking back down the valley more than made up for being sweat-soaked and tired.
A final 10km of undulating and again very dusty jeep track led the riders towards their destination, with a last steep 1km climb on the road, closing the day at the Hotel Gorka Bishauni.
Setting a trend, first and second place were once again taken by Ajay Chhetri (Genesis/Torq) and Narayan Gopal Maharajan (Ed Menzies) . Rajeev Rai secured his first top 3 placing, whilst 2009 champion Padam Sabenhang kept himself in the running with fourth place.
Australian rider Greg McGoldrick was the first international rider back, with UK rider Stephen Rysdale hot on his heels, but John McGillivray held on to his overall top international position at the end of stage 3. See All Event Posts
