MTB rider slays deep section roadies ;-)

[PPWTF]

 

British cross-country racer Luke Smith left locals red-faced when he

won a road race during a trip to Africa ? on

his Whyte 19 mountain bike.

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/mountain-biker-wins-road-race-on-his-hardtail-22736

 

When Luke lined up at the start of the 75km Broadhurst Road

Race in Gaborone, Botswanaon> on his hardtail with

knobbly tyres he was sneered at by some of the regulars. But he soon broke away

with the main bunch and then dropped them all in a sprint finish.

 

when the opportunity came

up to compete in a road race here in Gaborone

I was a bit sceptical about the potential. My chances of hanging in for the 75km

distance were also made worse by the fact that I only had my off-road tyres!

?Don?t get me wrong, the Whyte 19 is a very responsive frame,

but when guys started pulling up on full-carbon road bikes with Zipp 808 deep-section

carbon wheels, I anticipated it would be a matter of kilometres before I got

dropped!

?The race started off a fairly decent pace with everyone

keen to establish a good spot near the front of the peloton. I managed to work

my way up front without too much difficulty, much to the surprise of many

competitors as I rode past, my big knobbly tyres buzzing as the pace was wound

up.

?There were a couple of guys whom some friends of mine had

told me to watch ? one of them is apparently a pro roadie in South Africaon>.

It was no surprise that it was these guys who made most of the attacks. What

was surprising was the fact that I was able to go with them! Each time,

however, we were pulled back by the main group.

"As

the race neared the finish some of the riders made a last-ditch effort

at getting away but it was destined to come down to a sprint

finish. I managed to constantly hold second wheel behind the

lead rider with the pro road rider sat closely on my wheel. As we hit

the finishing straight I launched my attack and as

I glanced back I realised I had quickly gapped the riders. I even had

enough

time to make the most of the win and celebrate in style.

"The crowd and other riders were shocked that a mountain bike had won a road

race, especially as I was on knobbly tyres. When they later asked

what was the secret, I replied Whyte ? Great British mountain bikes, they can't

be beaten! To be honest though, I had really surprised myself."

PPWTF2009-08-10 12:23:26

[Sean Badenhorst]

Would be more impressive if he'd won it on a six-inch travel dual susser. Botswana, lovely country that it is, is hardly a great cycling nation...

 

 

 

[PPWTF]

 

Would be more impressive if he'd won it on a six-inch travel dual susser. Botswana' date=' lovely country that it is, is hardly a great cycling nation...

 

 

 

[/quote']

 

totally agree, but for the giggle factor it was way to good to miss

 

[Sean Badenhorst]

 

Would be more impressive if he'd won it on a six-inch travel dual susser. Botswana' date=' lovely country that it is, is hardly a great cycling nation...

 

 

 

[/quote']

 

totally agree, but for the giggle factor it was way to good to miss

 

Yeah, I spotted the in the topic header and knew you'd posted it for our amusement... Thanks. I was amused.

 

 

 

[Hog_]

I wonder how much that guy gets paid by Whyte? Still, very cool story. Good one for us MTBrs!

 

Didn't one of our guys place well at the Argus on a 29er last year?

 

 

 

[DaveVTC]

wow botswana has produced some real cycling greats during its time

[Bikalot]

to win in a sprint is quite impressive though assuming it was flat you would probably spin out quite easily

[splat]

I wouldn't have thought that there were too many Zipp 808's in Botswana...

[scotty]

No mention who the pro rider is.