So I'm entered into the 'Intro' 30km race. Few questions I haven't got the answers to scouring the forum..
Anybody done the event previously and have a rough idea of the total amount of climbing for the intro event? The website lists a 'combined' climb and descent of 1500m but I'd like to set a training goal for pedalling up.
There is a 'water station' listed. Is this just at the main event village? Or are there water stations between stages? What I'd really like to know is whether I could get away with just a bottle and tools strapped to bike or if the Camelbak needs to come out?
Lastly, "There will be ‘open loop’ with similar terrain and levels of technical difficulty to practice on." Come again? Is this available to all? Could I practice on say the Friday or Saturday here?
Cheers all.
Last year the intro comprised of 4 out of 7 of the stages of the main one. Those 4 were the easier ones. The climbing is hard and lots of (most?) people walked up some sections.
There was a water station at the end of one of the stages so you could fill your bottle at that point.
There is a practice loop that you can do, I think it's open on Friday/Saturday but can't remember if it's closed whilst the other racing is on
Enjoy it + good luck
From last years event (and I don’t think it varies too much).
There are seven stages in the main race, for the intro, you ride out to the start of stage 4 - which is quite a distance, and ride stages 4,5,6,7.
There was water and snacks at the end of stage 3, so not much help to you.
There was a red bull car dispensing free cans of red bull after the end of 5.
I did the full race with one bottle on the bike, with a refill (plus chugging as much as I could) at the water stop. Not sure I could have managed to do so if it was hot and sunny.
No water station on the intro, if your luck the red bull team will be in place after the 2nd or 3rd intro stage but don't rely on it. The total loop last year was just under 28km and 810m of height gained. Thought cycle to the first stage which is a big chunk of the loop, once you get to the start of the second stage ots not too bad. Demo loop available but not sure on this as its changed since I did it.
The practice loop last year was a short loop, basically up onto the edge then a steep drop back down. Good little practice, you can do it as many times as you want, IIRC it even included a few optional ramps/drops.
It's open whilst the race is on. I arrived on the Saturday afternoon whilst the actual enduro was on and rode it.
Thing is, it was so wet, muddy and slidy that I scared myself into having to buy new tires! 🤣
