Regal seal of approval for Shropshire cyclists
A group of Shropshire cyclists sped to a regal seal of approval in Gloucestershire and landed honours from the Princess Royal.
Six cycling whizzes from Team MITAS UK – mountain cyclists brought together by MITAS Tyres' Matt Lane – roared to a dominant win in the gruelling Mountain Mayhem event.
The Gatcombe Park meet, held at the home of Princess Anne, is a 10-man, 24-hour category event.
It's widely regarded as one of the toughest races staged on the mountain biking endurance circuit.
Team MITAS, who entered just six riders, made light work of the demanding course and impressive field.
They cruised to a one-lap victory and finishing some 15 minutes clear of their nearest competitors.
The six-man squad consisted of Matt Lane, from Telford, Charlie Lane, Andrew Evans, Ben Rodick and Matt Morgan, all of Bishop's Castle, and Churchstoke's Faisal Douzi.
Princess Anne was on hand to hand out the prizes at her residence.
Morgan said: "We were excited to win because the 'Banjocycles' guys that finished second were specifically put together to win this event.
"We whupped them in the end! It is only our second event after being put together last year and now we've had a third and a first.
"Hopefully it'll open us up to more sponsorship next year after we've arrived and upset the apple-cart with people wondering 'where have these come from?' We just thought it'd be a bit of a laugh."
The challenge was tough enough, with just six riders, and the task became more daunting when Rodick was hit by illness on the day.
It meant the other five MITAS stars had to power through five or six laps each of the daunting 6.5 mile circuit.
The woodland terrain – and 820 feet of climbing – confirmed it as an event not to be taken lightly. The sextet next head to Pontesbury for the Midlands MTB Series on July 9.
Then it's a trip to Plymouth as they continue to test themselves against the UK's best. To support them on their travels, contact Matt Morgan on matt.morgan@britpart.co.uk.
