I like the way this race is called a cycle challenge as it is one of the hardest races that I have done, with the combination of the distance, the terrain and the weather!
After over a month’s break from racing, and 3months since riding over 100km we decided that we would enter motu as every year we compete and it is a great event. Last year we took on the 160km, where I took the win and where Carl suffered from the motu weather conditions and ended up hyperthermic having to pull out after a great mtb leg.
The race kicks off at 7am in opotiki starting with a 65km mountain bike - The course follows the East Coast Scenic Highway out of Opotiki, turning right at Waiaua onto the Motu Road. The first 12km are on sealed road and the next 53km is on the winding, hilly Motu gravel road. Rain, mud, Chain suck, the fluL, flat tires and flat legs is a summary. Carl managed to get a flat tire before the first climb and had to do a massive effort to get back up there. He managed to catch back up and despite having another flat tire on the last descent down into motu he lead the motu 160 off this first stage. I also lead off the Mountain bike, although far from my fastest time on the motu mountain bike I survived and made it to the end.
From here it was over to the road bike for a 95km stage, which winds you up Traffords hill and then down the Waiweka George to Optotiki. Carl summarized the second stage as “got absolutely demoed”, he was unable to hold on after the work he had to put in on the mountainbike and After 45km he had absolutely nothing left in him having to pull the pin on the race.
I also struggled on this leg it was supper hard I had a few misshaps. I dropped my new garmin which I decided I was not going to leave behind so that was me turning around my bike and biking back for it. The next misshap was the wind up Traffords hill where there were insane 5km speeds, and even some walking. I did not walk myself however wished I had after getting blown off my bike and onto the road luckily an support crew car came through and not another so I could get up off the ground and back on the bike without being taken out. I hurt my back a bit so that didn’t make things very comfortable for the end of the road bike. I got past my Marina Fowel at the bottom of the descent she was riding strong and went on to take the win. I managed to hold onto second place but was completely smashed. I am happy with 2nd and the added bonus of $500 cash prize money. The mens 160 was won by Shem Rogers.
All and all it is a great event and well run. Richard and Elina Usher took out the motu challenge (the multisport event) with Karren Hanlen having an awesome race to finish second in the women’s.
