41st Three Peaks Cyclo-Race
 

Formby's Commonwealth Games Mountain Biker Sue Thomas despite being in Australia for training was delighted to hear that her dad took part again in the race and that he came  2nd place in the Grand Master Veteran Class.  The event that took place on Sunday the 29th Sept and  Jim Thomas despite a lack of training pulled way from the start and did a fantastic job holding against  some of the UK's best Veteran Bikers...  The intensely hard race covering open roads and in some places, real traffic, not to mention the small thing about going up mountains on paths that in some places rides had to dismount and carry their bikes up!  Jim battled on and held his own with the 298 riders of all categories.  Some pulled out through the race due to fatigue others due to mechanical failures with their bikes.  The race covered 5.5 Kms of escorted riding on the roads, 27km roads with out lead car (In traffic), 34kms unsurfaced tracks and paths and 8kms of unrideable terrain.    Starting and ending in Helwith Bridge and covering Horton, Gill Garth, Ingleborough, Cold Cotes, Ingleton, Chapel-Le-Dale, Burntscar, Wernside, Blea More, Ribblehead and Pen-Y-Ghent.  This was no mean feet. 

"I is a fantastic race.  I have fully enjoyed my self, but it was unfortunate that I was slower than normal as I only had a few weeks training in before this race due to having suffered from a virus that stopped my from training."   Jim told us.

"It is one of the hardest cycle cross races in the world and I would not miss it for the world.  This is my 5th or 6th year.  The best part has to be on the way back as you fly down Pen-Y-Ghent and stand on your pedals as you are bounced and shaken, but home is in site.."  Jim told us.

Southport Reporter  
Edition No. 68
Copyright (C) Patrick Trollope Tel:- 01704 830 521Print out is for personal use only.
Date:-
 04 October 2002