$100,000 Prized hardest BikRace ever, 2nd TdT September 13 - 17

[DAOTEC]

Website: http://www.tourdetimor.com/

Tuesday September 14, 2010
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian rider Shahrin Amir’s sacrifice to spend Hari Raya away from home to race for the yellow jersey in this gruelling bike race paid off handsomely, when he got on the podium on the first day of the Tour de Timor mountain bike race yesterday.

Shahrin completed the 124km first stage from Dili to Balibo in 4:11.45 to secure second place behind Australian Adrian Jackson, the current mountain bike orienteering world champion.
Jackson, who hails from Victoria, sped to victory in 4:11.25 while team-mate Scott Liston finished third in 4:12.45.

Shahrin was among the two riders who led the breakaway from the pack almost two hours into the race.
The 2010 Tour de Timor is considered the toughest mountain bike race in the world and it is contested over five days over a total distance of 420km.

More than 320 riders are competing in the Tour of Timor that offers US$100,000 in prize money.

Top 10 result stage 1:
1. Adrian Jackson Open Rapid Cycling -Time 3:48:48 -average 32.52 k/h
2. Shahrin Amir Open Malysia a +"1:40
3. Scott Liston U23 Felt-Moment a +"1:41
4. Steele von Hoff U23 Felt-Moment a +"1:43
5. Daniel McConnell Open Felt-Moment a +"4:23
6. Neil van der Ploeg U23 Felt-Moment a +"5:30
7. Ashley Hayat Open The Fitzroy Rev. a +"10:56
8. Simon Knowles 40+ AyUp Australia a +"12:49
9. Nor Shahriel Haizat Ahmad U23 Mix a +"14:00
10. Alex Denham U23 - 5 Boy Band a +"18:11

Cyclists line up for the start of the second-ever Tour de Timor

13 September 2010 – Hundreds of people lined the streets of Timor-Leste’s capital, Dili, today to cheer the start of the second-ever Tour de Timor, a five-day mountain bike race in which more than 360 riders – including 10 United Nations staff members – from 20 countries are taking part.
During the 420-kilometre race, riders will explore the western half of the fledgling South-East Asian nation, which the UN shepherded to independence in 2002. Last year’s race focused on the east of the country.

Today’s 124-kilometre leg, which included flat paved roads as well as mountainous, difficult terrain, began outside the presidential palace in Dili and ended in the historic town of Balibo. During the course of the race the cyclists will climb from sea level to an elevation of more than 1,800 metres at one point.

At the camping sites where racers rest every evening, there is only provided water, lights, a power generator and an ambulance.

Full Results Click: http://www.tourdetimor.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/TdT_St1_Overall_1502.pdf

Picturebook must see day 1 Click: http://www.tourdetimor.com/?page_id=960

CyclingNews Racereport Stage 1 here: http://www.cyclingnews.com/tour-de-timor-ne/stage-1/

5 Crazy videos TdT 2009 Click the numbers: I & II & III & IV & V

 

[DAOTEC]

radio Australia | Tue, 14 Sep 2010 09:41

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Tour de Timor bike race continues

Participants of the Tour de Timor bicycle race have taken off for the second day.

Yesterday 183 riders completed stage 1, riding the 124 kilometres from the capital Dili to Balibo, near the border with Indonesia.

It was the Australian A-J Jackson who was first across the finish line after 3 hours 48 minutes and 48 seconds.

http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201009/3010988.htm?desktop

 

[DAOTEC]

! Stage 2: Balibo - Suai 95km

Website: http://www.tourdetimor.com/

Twenty five-year-old Australian Dan McConnell snatched victory over the vicious Bobonaro Mountain Range on Day 2 of the 2010 Tour de Timor Ride for Peace after two punctures ruined the chances of yesterday's stage winner Adrian Jackson (AJ).

And the bad luck didn't stop with AJ. Vicious pot-holes, near-vertical drop-offs, water from overnight rain and - simply - very, very bad tracks tested every rider and their equipment. Many bikes were damaged.

Steele von Hoff, who cramped up minutes from the end yesterday, came off his bike at high speed just 100 metres from the finish today, but still managed second. AJ finished third.

McConnell came in at 3:45:20, with von Hoff one minute and 15 seconds away and AJ at 3:48:44.

"It was pretty much hard from the gun," McConnell said, "it was only 30km or so until you hit the first climb, and it was a pretty fast pace up that hill. It was really hot. There were exposed hills, not much shade and no wind.

"I was cramping up but managed to hang in there."

CN report already in: http://cyclingnews.com/tour-de-timor-ne/stage-2

 

[DAOTEC]

! Stage 3: Suai - Ainaro 67km | of the hardest Bik race in the world

After yesterday’s long and brutal ride, today was comparatively easy. Thirty kilometres of seriously-potholed dirt and tar with numerous river crossings tested riders’ strength and perseverance as well as their bikes’ suspensions. Around 30 kilometres from the day’s finish at Ainaro the road is smooth, albeit with the occasional “Timor” pothole. Fifteen kilometres from the stage end, the road begins a twisting ascent of 700 meters to the finish.

His run of bad luck just had to end, and so it did as Australian Steele von Hoff avoided his usual cramps and crashes to be first in a thrilling one-second win over Adrian Jackson on Day 3 of the 2010 Tour de Timor Ride for Peace.

After being almost in sight of the Day 1 Balibo finish and cramping up so severely that he had to get off his bike and push it for about two kilometres, and then yesterday hitting a pot hole and crashing within 100 meters of the Suai line, von Hoff today finally had a trouble free run.

Tasmania’s Rowena Fry continued her amazing form as the first woman finishing in 2:45.12. She was the 13th rider to cross the finish line today.

Malaysia’s Shahrin Amir was third with countryman Nor Shariel Halzat Ahmad Nazall fourth. Jackson’s second keeps him in the Yellow Jersey for the Tour de Timor. Yesterday’s Stage winner Dan McConnell got a flat tyre and finished in 3:09.36.

For a very interesting complete report Click: http://tourdetimor.com/Stage-3

Pics @: http://tourdetimor.com/+1

CyclingNews report TBC: http://cyclingnews.com/tour-de-timor/stage-3

 

[DAOTEC]

! Stage 4: September 16, Ainaro - Aileu 68km

Today’s stage peaks at just over 1900 metres with a 20-kilometre climb to the top. The surface is relatively smooth tar, again with huge potholes and a few steep pinches. At the top of the highest climb the road is smooth and fast, levelling out to pass through alpine meadows, similar to some of the higher Tour de France mountain top finishes. After Maubisse the racers launched into two more tar climbs followed by seriously fun and fast tar descents into the town of Aileu.

Last year’s Tour de Timor winner Neil Van der Ploeg won Day 4 of the 2010 Tour de Timor Ride for Peace in a time of 2:39.57, as Yellow Jersey Adrian Jackson “AJ” crashed and lost a crucial 31 seconds to come in third.
Jackson (2:40.28) was not badly hurt in the crash but suffered extensive gravel rash, cuts and bruising.

The result sets up a fascinating final Stage with either von Hoff or Jackson the likely winner of the tour.

Once again Row Fry was the first female over the line in 3:06.46 and retains the Pink Jersey. She had a 30-minute lead at the start of this stage and it is hard to imagine any of the other women catching her.

For the full story and race results, go to: http://www.tourdetimor.com/?page_id=1087


Results stage 4 later here: http://www.tourdetimor.com/?page_id=1093


CyclingNews report TBC: http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-timor-ne/stage-4/results


PhotoBook Stage 4: http://www.tourdetimor.com/?page_id=1090


'You’d have to be a numnut to take this on for fun'

Read More Sep 16 @: http://www.tourdetimor.com/?p=1103

 

[DAOTEC]

The crowns are known after final stage 5

Today’s start was 800 metres above the finish in Dili. It is the shortest stage of the race but with a couple of climbs big enough to split the pack. Riders upped the tyre pressure today to make the most of the smooth tar sections, but a 500-metre seriously-rough dirt descent 20 kilometres from the finish winds down to the coastal lowlands testing riders to the end. A final 15-kilometre bitumen run along the exceptionally picturesque but equally hot and dry north coast shoreline; and one last 100-metre climb to the outskirts of Dili.

Twenty-two year-old von Hoff, who is moving towards road racing and who aspires to compete in the Tour de France, won the final Stage in a blistering 1:52.48 but could not make up enough time to catch the battered and bruised “Yellow Jersey” 27-year-old Jackson, who was today third in 1:54.00 and who fell heavily near the end yesterday.

Von Hoff’s teammate Neil van der Ploeg came in second at 1:53.15 after helping him break away from Jackson and Ben Mather (5th) about 10 kilometres out.

“Pink Jersey” Rowena Fry who started the day 1:47.16 behind Jackson and 35 minutes 48 seconds in front of the next female, Naomi Hansen, played it safe to be the first woman home. She came in 16th overall with a time of 2:06.45.

Complete RaceReport: http://www.tourdetimor.com/?page_id=1124

Final Results: http://www.tourdetimor.com/?page_id=1130

Picture-Book stage 5: http://www.tourdetimor.com/?page_id=1128