The Freedom Challenge
First Rider Finishes
News Release / 01.07.2009
By the time he reached the finish darkness had set in. However, the mood amongst family and friends who were there to meet him was one of levity. He had completed the 2300 km cycle race in 14 days and 13 hours. Although he had narrowly missed the record set in 2008 his ride was quite remarkable. 10 days into the ride and emerging from the Baviaanskloof he was two days ahead of the 2008 record pace. However, the next day as he rode alongside the Droeberge from Willowmore towards Prince Albert he was slowed by gale force headwinds.
Two days later as he climbed from the Gamkaskloof into the foothills of the Swartberg he was again forced to stop riding, this time by a snowstorm. Despite 240 kms of hard riding the following day that took him through the Anysberg Nature Reserve and on through Montagu and MacGregor to the Agterkliphoogte Valley he was not able to recover the lost time.
Nevertheless, arriving at Diemersfontein where he received the Basutho blanket given to every Freedom Challenge finisher he said of his ride "It was great. My preparation paid off. Until I hit the bad weather I rode to plan. I really enjoyed the riding and I also really enjoyed the people that I met along the route. This race is gold".
With Barnes now settled in at Diemersfontein all eyes now turn to 2008 record holder Tim James of Team Squirt riding Scott. James, who started from Pietermaritzburg four days after Barnes, set the early pace and led the race until a difficult day in the Stormberg saw him lose the initiative to Barnes. When James left Willowmore on Thursday afternoon Barnes still held an effective 7 hour lead over him.
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