NICK Craig once again showed his class and claimed a hat trick of consecutive wins in the Sleepwell Hotels End2End Mountain Bike Challenge today (Sunday).
Craig, a former Olympic competitor, won by more than three minutes from Elliot Baxter, riding for Isle of Man Fire Service, with Matt Clinton of Balsall Common finishing third.
The winner’s time was 2 hrs 57 minutes 20.3 seconds. He was the only rider to finish under three hours.
The top Manx rider was Paul Kneen of the Manx Road Club who finished a fine 4th, twelve minutes behind the winner.
The event - which had a record entry of 1,400 - was held in perfect weather conditions and was watched by big crowds all along the 46 miles route from the Point of Ayre to Cregneash.
New road closures and improved traffic management systems proved to reduce traffic congestion considerably and the event has been voted a major success by the organisers the Manx Mountain Bike Club.
There were 1,347 finishers. TT star Guy Martin finished 79th. Cheri Mills of Wrexham was the ladies winner in 82nd overall position.
Photos by Bill Dale www.isleofmanphotos.com
