Yak Attack

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Up to 3500m

Phil Evans (Extreme World Challenges) / 14.03.2011

<b>Stage 7 - Chame to Manang 30km, 1044m of ascent.</b>

After a ceremonious send off from the Chame community the 2011 Yak Attackers were once again on their way upwards towards Manang and a well-earned rest day.

After leaving the village the trail was soon into pine forests, following the course of the river far below. Reports from further up were that the snow that had fallen 2 weeks ago had all but cleared and the going was good all the way to the day’s first suspension bridge. From here, the day’s only major carry section ensued, a 15 minute haul up through the forest, which took the riders up to a height where the snow was still lying in shaded areas.

On the first descent down into the Manang valley a small section of ice took a number of victims. Greg McGoldrick, John Ferguson, John McGillivray, Kumar Gurung and Rajeev Rai all fell foul of the ice. Adding to this Andre Deplechins earlier fall, made for a busy time for the medic once everybody was back at base!

Once out of the snow covered section, and onto the flat, a complete mud-fest confronted the riders. The going was so bad at one point, that Australian rider Greg McGoldrick, fed up of clearing mud from his back wheel and suffering the effects of his earlier tumble, threw his bike into the snow, vowing never to race again. Joking about it later Greg said; "We don’t get much mud in Australia and if we do get any we don’t go out in it!".

Answering the critics who doubted his ability at altitude, Ajay Pandit Chhetri (Genesis/Torq) , took his 7th stage victory, increasing his overall lead by another 9 minutes. His closest rival Padam Sabenhang finished 9 minutes later, with Mangal Krishna Lama 3rd and Rajeev Rai in 4th. The laid back Aussie, Paul Bolla was once again first non-Nepali rider back with fellow Aussie, Mark Waller, putting in the performance of his race, finishing just 2 minutes later, equal 7th with Steve Rysdale.

Previously fearing the increase of altitude (the race is now at 3540m), John McGillivray mused; "I never thought I would have enjoyed racing at 3500m, but with all the mud and snow, the 4 months of training in the UK winter have paid off."See All Event Posts