I remember three years back that there was the first Red
Bull Fortress Challenge in Qatar. But at that time I had some other plans,
bought my mountain bike only recently and was not yet that racing hungry.
Shortly after that I regretted time to time not to compete, because it was a
big, fun and recognized event!
So when Red Bull confirmed on the last minute that they are
organizing the second edition my heart rate shoot up in expectations: “That’s
going to be the biggest MTB event in Qatar this year…a lot of people…big
prizes…have to do my best and try to…” then I tamed my expectations and started
to think how I can prepare well in less than two weeks I had!
At the end I managed to cycle only like 150k,
nicely clean and lubricate my bike, put on new tire and buy some tools for
quick tire repair, but the day before the race I felt great, light, strong and
confident. The most important and beneficial part of the race preparation we
did with Ondrej on the afternoon before the race. We drove early to the race location
hoping to see the route marked that we could do a recce. Everything was already
prepared so we easily did the technical 13k loop and then the flatter and
sandier 10k one.
“It’s too
short!! Make it two laps that it is at least 30k!” I shouted at my friend and
the race organizer Eli, who was just driving around on the pickup doing last
checks. He smiled and disappeared in the cloud of dust. At least he confirmed
that we can come straight to the start and don’t have to be joining the convoy
at 6am, so we could just drive two kilometers to our campsite on the shore,
have a barbecue and good night sleep under the stars.
The whole last week I was consumed by the race,
thinking about the strategies, competitors and other scenarios. I felt my
heartbeat rise just by picturing me on the start line among 150 other racers.
It is nice to do a race when you know from the start that you are just against
yourself and time and when you know that there is no chance to win and nothing
in stake. You feel nervous, but just a bit, but mostly you are calm, relaxed
and ready to enjoy the event.
But when you, or at least I, do a race when you
know that you are one of the favorites, that there is a decent chance of
winning and that there are nice prizes to be won, you get even more nervous and
hardly relaxed and calm J But what all races have in common it, that once
the starting siren sounds, nervousness is instantly over and you are 100% in
the race focusing forward!
Race morning was long, because of some
organizational problems, but I had at least enough time to make everything
ready and I could also watch probably the biggest rivals, the Qatari National
Cycling team sitting in their own tent with their coach and support vehicle
with spare wheels! I knew that they are strong road bikers and I couldn’t beat
them on the road, but this was mountain bike race and unlike me, they were on
the track where they’ve probably never been and on the bikes they seemed they’ve
hardly ridden!
So it was open I hoped J During the race briefing they announced that we
would do the sandy loop twice so the distance would be 33k. “Longer the
better…” I smiled, but had to quickly top up my camel bag for additional water
for the unexpected distance.
I knew that Qataris will try to work together in
group and I also thought that standing in the second line on the start would be
enough to catch whatever escape someone might try, but no…the start went
absolutely wrong!
Before I got out and free onto the wide gravel
track after a sharp turn from the start line five Qataris were already 30m
ahead and going strong. The late start apart from bigger heat meant that the
wind also picked up and the first four kilometers were against it, which was
giving the cooperating group ahead even bigger advantage!
I tried to push hard to catch them, even tried
to work together with one Qatari who was left behind, but it was not possible. I
mean, it was not possible to catch them there J “Let’s wait for the soft sand and see how good they are there!” and I relaxed a
bit and only followed from behind on the top of the second group keeping them
in sight. When we reached the sand stretch they were around 100m ahead, but
then happened exactly what we were hoping for with Ondrej.
Biking in soft and loose sand if difficult, but
as long as it is flat or downhill, with the right setup you can pass almost
everywhere! And we were ready for that J Wide 29” tubeless tires allow for low tire pressure which creates bigger and
flatter tire surface touching ground increasing grip and reducing sinking. And
if you gear down and keep your legs spinning you feel like a Land Cruiser in
the dunes. This time was not as perfect as usually, because I had to change my
2.35 inch wide rear tire for 2.25” only which made a notable difference, but
still I was able get though the sand without stopping. And there is a massive
speed difference if you have to walk or you ride J
So like in some kind of comedy I watched the Qataris in
front of me get stuck in the sand one by one and I passed them like a train not
stopping in the station for standing passengers! I didn’t look back until I was
back on the dirt road going back to the start, but when I did, to my surprise
there was no one in sight for half a kilometer! Except Ondrej who was 20 meters
behind J So
I waited for him a bit and then we speeded up together downwind back towards
the start and the rest of the course. And like this it stayed until the finish!
We were going full speed over rocks, hills,
sand, climbs and descends. Sometimes I had to slow down a bit for Ondrej to
catch up, but we were not under pressure so I happily helped a friend. Claiming
together the first two places in a race like this was too tempting. But no one
caught up or got even to our sight!
So we won this race J It was great feeling and I was completely consumed
with the moment I was carrying and waving the flag to the fortress wall. We
stood up there for a long while giving interviews, getting photographed and
enjoying the victory! It took the third guy long 10 minutes to reach the finish,
but at that time we were already sitting the chairs, sipping cold drinks and
laughing with our friends describing this awesome race and experience J
We finished that great day on the nearby beach submerged in
refreshing sea and planning what we would buy for the money we won! 1100 USD
for Giant products is quite a sum. Pity that I have already everything I need,
but I’m sure there will be something I missed or can upgrade ;) Finally my
training and investments paid off a bit!
