Extreme cycling team Ultra6 has succeeded in setting three new cycling world records on one of the most gruelling mountains in the Tour de France, the lunar landscaped Mount Ventoux – the Yorkshire team cycled the equivalent distance of travelling into space!
Sponsored by cycling retailer All Terrain, the team took on the world record attempt to be the first to cycle 100,000ft vertical ascent and descent on one continuous mountain climb. Previously, the most anyone had achieved was 65,000ft.
It took just four days 16 hours and 14 minutes for three of the team to complete 19.35 ascents and descents of Mont Ventoux with a total height gain of 100,000ft. At the same time, the team also set a record for the fastest 100,000ft and also the highest as a team of five at 77,519ft each giving a total of 387,595ft.
The team comprised All Terrain Cycles mechanic and workshop manager Ben Wood, also a member of the store’s road race team, along with two other All Terrain road team members Nick Jovanovic and Matt Robinson as well as Andy North and James Welsh. Ben, James and Matt of Keighley and Nick and Andy from Guiseley had been planning and training for this extreme challenge for the past year.
Andy North said:
We had to train through the winter months on our local Yorkshire hills to ensure we had the best opportunity for success, you know if you can survive the harsh conditions whilst out on a Yorkshire training ride, then you can survive anything the French weather can throw at you!
In fact, when we arrived in France, we were faced with temperatures of 40oc which took some getting used to.
The team were provided with the latest light weight production bikes from Spanish brand Orbea by the All Terrain Cycles stores in Shipley and Wetherby, with Endura producing team kit to match the colour scheme of the bikes.
Ben Wood, who is the workshop manager at All Terrain Cycles’ Saltaire store where he has worked for 15 years, said:
We knew that we needed to have the best and the lightest equipment for this challenge and are really grateful for all the support we have received from our sponsors and supporters.
The Ultra6 team has already achieved two world records and undertook this latest challenge to raise funds for ABF, the Soldiers’ Charity and for M4Melanoma. Last year, the team raised £30,000 for the Lord Mayor’s Cycle Ride, cycling 240 miles in 22 hours from Leeds to the city’s twin town of Dortmund in Germany. In 2013, the team completed another awesome challenge for ABF, running a marathon every day and cycling 100 miles on seven consecutive days from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
Tony Booth, managing director of All Terrain Cycles which has superstores in Wetherby and in Saltaire, near Bradford, said:
Congratulations to Ben and the guys for another great British cycling achievement! They took on an absolutely amazing challenge and have brought three world records home to Yorkshire.
The Race to Space challenge was sponsored by local businessman Dave Gale who helped and supported the team during the build up and on Mont Ventoux throughout the whole challenge. David, who lost his son earlier this year, wanted the team to succeed in memory of his son Paul Gale.
The team was also supported by Jason O’Connor at Advanced Wellness in Ilkley.
