The 24-hour solo Worlds hits Fort William this weekend and here’s an update from organisers No Fuss Events on what to expect. We’ll be there, working on a feature for an upcoming issue of the magazine and supporting the many friends-of-Singletrack who are taking part, so if you see us say hello/buy us cake/inject us with caffeine, please.
If you’re taking part yourself then there’s already a WEMBO thread in the forum for you to share your nerves – and we wish you the best of luck, because when we checked the webcam this morning (for snow…), it appears Nevis Range has laid on a special welcoming committee for all racers… 😉
No Fuss says:
Scotland, the perfect stage! This year has been a standout year for sporting events in Scotland, which has included the Commonwealth Games, the UCI World Cup DH (also at Nevis Range), the Ryder Cup just 2 weeks ago and now WEMBO, when the eyes of the mountain bike world will focus on the Outdoor Capital of the UK once again. We are very happy to have been on the same programme as these events thanks to Homecoming Scotland 2014. Homecoming Scotland 2014 offers a year-long programme of events celebrating the very best of Scotland’s food and drink, our fantastic active and natural resources as well as our creativity, culture and ancestral heritage. Homecoming Scotland 2014 will position Scotland on the international stage as a dynamic and creative nation.
There will be 170 competitors from 22 countries competing to be the 2014 World Solo 24 Hour Mountain Bike Champion. The event, which will be based at Scotland’s home of mountain biking, Nevis Range, is the third World Championship event hosted by WEMBO (World Endurance Mountain Bike Organisation). The first was in 2012 in Finale Ligure in Italy, then Canberra, Australia in 2013 and now Fort William for 2014.
WEMBO was formed in 2011 after there was recognition that 24hr racers needed a Championship event, one that would represent them globally. There are three founding partners in WEMBO; Canberra Off Road Racing Club, 24Hrs of Finale and Lochaber based No Fuss Events. For the first time all of the presenting partners will be at the event, Russ Baker from Canberra, Ricardo Negaro from Finale and the host team from No Fuss.
David (Spook) Munro from No Fuss said, “It is great that Russ and Ricardo are going to make it to Scotland. We also have Vic from Team Bigfoot, the 2015 host from California, at the event as well, which means the pressure to host a great event is on No Fuss. We are pretty sure that no one will be disappointed with the course we have chosen which is a mixture of tough technical trails, some fine natural terrain and a few solid climbs. I expect the winner will complete around 25 laps in the 24 hrs.”
The current World Champions are Jason English and Jessica Douglas, both Australian and both having held their titles in Australia last year after winning in Italy in 2012. Jessica will not be at the event in Scotland so there is the guarantee of a new female World Champion. Jason English is keen to keep his title and will be fighting hard for it. Fiona Beattie from No Fuss commented, “There is going to be some amazing racing, 24hrs requires tactical thinking, a positive mind and the ability to keep going hard for the duration. This year more than ever there is anticipation about the weather, with riders preparing for all sort of different scenarios,” she added, “for us, that is just part of the excitement!”
The first of the riders have already arrived in Fort William and are acclimatising in anticipation of the event. Each rider will have a pit crew who will look after them and their bikes for the duration of the event, preparing food, servicing bikes and providing mechanical and emotional support. The base at Nevis Range is a great spot for spectators, with a lot of activity in the pit area, easy access to the course and live timing to keep everyone up to date as the race unfolds.
Jason Miles, winner at a number of 24hr solo events in the UK is keen to do well along with other home athletes – he was second in Italy in 2012 so also keen for the gold medal. Local mountain biker Hannah Barnes will be flying the Lochaber flag and although she maintains she is not going for the win, we are sure the other ladies will be keeping a keen eye on how she fairs. TT legend and King of Speed (Channel 4 TV show) Guy Martin has been training hard for this event for a few years and we are sure he is not here just to take part.
The race starts at midday on Saturday the 11th of October. Frazer Coupland from No Fuss said “This is an amazing opportunity, a World Championship on our doorstep, with no admission fee for spectators. We are hoping that locals and mountain bike enthusiasts from across Scotland and the UK will come along and support these riders as they compete for the crown in what can only be described as one of the toughest endurance events in the world.”
