2007-07-09

Over 20 000 locals had shown up at the finish area of the third and final stage of Genghis Kahn Mountain Bike Adventure, eagerly awaiting the bikers to turn that last corner and head down town, towards the final finish line. 

The atmosphere on the town square where the bikers would make their final stop was fantastic. Everywhere one turned the locals was eager to get the bikers autographs, take pictures with them and shake their hands. One this day, the participants and not at least the winners, were truly heroes. 

The first ones to come riding down the crowded main road towards the finish line was Darren Benson, holding hands with Martin Breuvart as they took in the crowd’s applause. A meager one second was given Darren Benson in advance to Martin Breuvart, making him the winner of the third and final stage, finishing at 1:10:25, and Martin Breuvart at 1:10:26. Even though the third place at the final stage was won by孙成义, finishing at 1:12:57, it didn't have any effect on the overall result. After three stages was done and finished with Martin Breuvart, Darren Benson and Chris Edward Lawson were standing alone at the top, receiving their justified applause from the 20 000 gathered around the stage.

In the women’s competition, the yellow lead shirt belonging to 刘婷 was the first to cross the finish line after 1:24:28, just beating吕桃涛 by 22 seconds, and hence winning the overall competition. 蓝彩婵came in third place, finishing at 1:26:58. 

The last three to stand alone in the women’s competition, the overall winners from the three stages were刘婷, 吕桃涛 and 蓝彩婵, who also received their justified applause from the massive amount of spectators standing at the town square. 

After the whole race was all done and over with, it was time for all of the 200 participants to let the past days experience sink in, and no one had been disappointed. From the winners to the participants who where there for nature and culture, they all had been given more then they asked for. 

When cycling the vast and desolate grasslands, surrounded by horses, birds, cows and sheep one could see for almost 100km in each direction, the green grass spreading towards the never ending horizon. 

After the races had been over, the participants had experienced traditional Mongolian barbeque, music numbers, horse shows and traditional Mongolian wrestling. The Inner Mongolia Genghis Kahn Mountain Bike race truly was adventure.