Thank you

[lanterne rouge]

Thank you to everyone who stood out in such awful weather marshalling, officiating, cheering us on. It was horrible on the hills (and not much better in the valleys), but it was certainly easier to ride than stand around. Sadly I couldn't beat the cut off time this year, but I hope to be back to get that elusive twentieth finish!

Thanks most of all, of course, to John for his organisation. I was two months old when the first event took place, so he will have started organising well before I was born - an incredible thought for someone in his fifties!

[dph]

Big thanks from me too.

Can't have been much fun standing still in those conditions today, especially on the tops.

Hopefully the broken brake, puncture, snapped chain and bent derailleur should mean I've used up my bad luck for a few years.

[Howard]

Just like to add my thanks too. People had asked me if it would go ahead given the weather. It's good to know that there are still some sports where it's up to you to do the risk assessment and make the choice. Nothing but admiration for the guys at the top in the worst conditions, but massive thanks to all the helpers.

[pete ward]

A big thank you for all the helpers and organisers - so very well done.
Nice touch for putting a bike wash at the end of pen-y-ghent lane so we didn't have to wash our bikes at the finish!

[Hanneke]

That is exactly why I came on here for too, to thank all the marshalls, especially those out for hours on end on the exposed hills to wait for the likes of me, who were struggling at the back! I really suffered in the wind and having dislocated my right shoulder 3 weeks ago didn't help. I was afraid to get blown over and pop it out again so ran almost more than I rode

Got timed out at Horton by only a few minutes... but didn't want to feel that I was keeping the marshalls out on the tops any longer either. Mixed feelings, so now I have to do it again next year!

Hope the conditions haven't put the lovely mountain rescue guys and other volunteers off! a HUGE thank you for making it possible for us nutters to race the best race in the world

[monkeynut]

Many thanks to John and team it was epic, I thought i would have got under 5 hours this year but having spent thursday friday trying to sweat out a cold with the help of a bottle of nightnurse and a dodgy rear mech on the day
just managed 6.33! but all fun ! a big thanks to those marshals and helpers on the check points& on the summits especially great stuff, Cant wait till next year either riding or or marshaling
keith

[PHRoadie]

I'd just like to reiterate what everyone else here has said - huge respect and thanks to the organisers, marshalls and volunteers. And all the other riders too. The weather was truly mental at times, so bad on the tops of Ingleborough and Whernside it was actually quite amusing!
I have now confirmed to myself that I have virtually no skill for descending on anything other than a full suspension MTB - must practice this for next year!
Good luck for next year everyone, and thanks again,
Paul

[Damian]

Me too. A great many thanks to all of the marshalls and organisers! Huge gratitude to you guys on the tops stood about keeping things going, dibbing etc. I absolutely loved the event, my first, but was very happy to not be hanging around! So grateful I didn't puncture or the like. Sympathy to anybody who did! And respect, again, to anyone hanging around! Stirling work! The weather for me brought out the warrior in me as well as the laughter, and the northerner! Fantastic! Damian

[wullrich]

Chapeau to all the volunteers!

[crispycross]

I want to add my thanks to the organisers, the marshalls and particularly to Phil and his mum and dad. After I crashed and broke my collarbone near the top of Pen-y-Ghent, they lent me a jacket, walked me and my bike down to Horton and Phil gave me a lift back to the start. Thanks also to mountain rescue, who fitted me up with a sling and a cup of hot sweet tea. I'm immensely grateful. I hope I'll be back next year as the chances of the weather being that bad again must be slim-to-vanishing.