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Where are they going? Day 3

Rob Howard / 27.08.2011

The day two paddle on Ullwater was the last of the race. The final two days are all running and cycling – which is a relief to the support crews who won’t have to load and unload the kayaks any more! It also means a change in tactics for the leading teams. The top two teams have so far used their female athletes only on the paddling stages, so for the remaining two days they need to come up with a different plan. There are also specific MTB stages on the last two days, introducing a new element to the event.

Day 3 starts back on the main street of Kirby Stephen and begins with a run over Nine Standards Rigg (and a King of the Mountains time trial to the top of Nine Standards). This finishes at the village of Keld, with a different transition to the one used in 2009.

Next comes the first MTB stage, from Keld to Castle Bolton, through Swaledale. Again the use of any tarmac road is restricted to 500m or less, and the section is described in the route book as “a chance to enjoy the amazing scenery that the Dales has to offer.�

The stage finishes at Castle Bolton, at spectacular setting by the castle and river, where the teams can change wheels if they want, to put on slick tyres for the linking cycle stage through the Vale of York. Once again this is open route choice, with some restrictions and the teams must use specified points to cross the busy A1 highway. (At either Catterick or Brompton on Swale.)

The finish is by the Town Hall in Northallerton, with camping by the town leisure centre.

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