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The Mechanics; Keeping the Riders on the Trail

Cory Wallace / 13.08.2009

Having finished the TR3 I will now be on full time reporter mode which will involve riding each stage as well as doing a behind-the-scenes look into the TR with a different theme each night. For today's report it seemed fitting to talk to some of the mechanics to get a better idea what these lifesavers do day in and day out through the 7 day event. Stage 5 I will look into food (feed stations, finish line, breakfast and supper), stage 6 will be medical aid as people will be suffering hardcore by then and stage 7 is yet to be determined (after party?).

With cloudy skies looming this morning the 250-rider peloton headed off deeper into the Rockies on the longest stage of this year's event. Right from the start things were interesting as the riders followed some of the muddy time-trial course from the day before which immersed everyone into full time race mode within a few km.

Soon after the riders would be on and off of logging roads, on outfitter trails and along some wicked side hill single-track. For anyone looking for a full on wilderness adventure this race seems to be hitting the spot as the closest thing to civilization the riders passed by today was one hunters cabin and a couple outfitting camps. As Netzar, the organizer of an epic mtb race in Guatemala would state "This race is wild, without my partner I would've been very lonely as we were in the middle of nowhere! In Guatemala my race goes through 4 or 5 small towns a day and is never farther then 10 km off a highway." That I believe is what makes this race very cool and shows off Canada in grand style.

Riding in the middle of the pack was a unique experience today as riders seemed extremely relaxed and pretty stoked just to be out riding. Up front the pace is mad, the sweat is pouring and the riders see about 1% of the beautiful scenery around them, but once you get back in the pack things simmer a lot. Riders are chatting to each other, patiently waiting in line and helping each other pack there bikes up the hike-a-bike sections and making the most of the feed zones.

Throughout the day as I rode up through the pack there was an evident change in the seriousness of the riders and up near the front things got pretty heated. When I stopped at a feed zone a little too long I lost pace with the 3rd place open men's team of Brian Bain and Ryan Correy riding for Bow Cycle. This team is currently sitting in 4th place overall but gained over 23 minutes on 3rd place with a hard effort today.

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