The Langkawi International Mountain Bike Challenge
Stage 3 – Speed Not Endurance
Cory Wallace / 21.10.2011
Stage 3 of the LIMBC took place at an Oceanside resort on the far west corner of Langkawi Island. The race was initially going to be a 6 hour endurance race but was shortened to an 8 lap race on a really fast and flat 4.5 km course. This was a surprise to many of us endurance racers here but a lot of riders seemed OK with the decision as 6 hrs in this humidity would’ve been a death march for many.
The course was pretty cool as it was divided into 3 sections. A 1.5 km loop of an open field, 1.5 km on windy jungle single-track and 1.5 km along the beach. It was a pretty fun course and definitely felt like we were racing in a foreign tropical paradise. Along the beach there was a bunch of oxen tied up grazing alongside the trail. Most riders were so cross-eyed during the chaotic Indy style race that they didn’t even see them. I got a glimpse on lap 7 as I had blown up by that time and had time to take in some sights, but had apparently ridden right by the beasts for the first 6 laps unknowingly.
With the type of racing at the LIMBC turning into max effort sprints each day on very different courses it is lending itself to a lot of different riders taking stage wins. After yesterdays hilly XC course, today’s pancake flat course allowed some of the heavier riders to lead the race. Right from the gun there was a silly pace as Australia’s under 23 Champion, a 6 foot 4 monster, took us all by storm and gapped the whole field on the opening lap. He was later seen pedaling like a kid on the way to the dentist as his gas tank emptied well before the race ended.
With the 80% cut-off rule in effect, and fast 10-11 minute lap times, just over 20 of the 140 starters managed to finish the race. There is no doubt that riding here will make riders bring their “A� game as there is a boat load of talented riders who are chomping at the bit to flex their muscles each day. It is rad to be in such an environment as it forces most of us to ride at a much higher level than we are used to.
After the race a Malaysian Monsoon moved in and unloaded for close to an hour. What had been a pretty dry, almost dusty course in sections was now a giant flooded lake with creeks running down any low spots in the ground. Kris and I hid under a race tent with a bunch of other riders during the storm and were slowly flooded out of our hiding space and into the waterfall. We’re not sure how much it actually rained but it was probably equivalent to a couple months of rain in my hometown of Jasper in the Canadian Rockies.
Tomorrow will be another interesting day as all the racers in the different categories will line up together to tackle a 27 km paved course heading up the 823m Gunung Raya peak in the middle of the island.
Full results and race information can be found at <a href="#" onClick="javascript:newsitewindow('http://www.mtbmalaysia.com')" class="main">www.mtbmalaysia.com</a>.See All Event Posts
