For info on this year’s event, check out our this post!
The weather couldn’t of been better for the start of the Jet Black 24 hour mountain bike race at the Mount Annan botanical gardens today.
Such a contrast to last year where the temperature was in excess of 40 degrees, all the teams and solo riders kicked off at midday for the start of their 6 X 6 hour stint or the full 24 hour enduro.
I admire the fitness of the riders. The tracks at the gardens are quite challenging – I get tired after only a couple of laps, let alone 24 hours of the same thing. I’m not sure how many riders entered this year, however as you see in the photos below, the start/finish area was quite full of officials and support vehicles, friends and family, and of course the competitors themselves.
I’m sure the riders will be happy with no rain forecast and overcast weather conditions. It will make dehydration a little easier to avoid.
It was funny seeing the main area of the mountain bike track full of vehicles and people. On a normal day, this is an empty and placid area, with many rabbits late in the afternoon running around.
Again, like the picture above, it is strange to see the area full of cars.
Here’a a pic of the start/finish line, with competitors waiting on their team mates to finish a lap so they can be tagged to start riding themselves.
Best of luck to all riders overnight and in the morning!