Checkmate for Novotny and Hynek

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Hey La Ruta, better watch out. There's a new entrant in the ultra-endurance mountain biking genre and it's packing a serious punch - plus some epic scenery.

The new name in the game is Brazil's inaugural Claro Brasil Ride, a six-day stage race in the northeastern state of Bahia. Racing opened Sunday with a short prologue. Monday the real fireworks began with a brutal 139km run from Mucuge south to Rio de Contas.

In between the two small towns was a massive 3372 metres of climbing, on-and-off torrential rain, and enough mud to build an adobe metropolis. But while that might sound like hell on wheels, portions of the course were downright heaven sent. Think twisty, laugh-inducing single track through the jungle, mixed with stunning scenery straight out of a Jurassic Park movie and you're on the right track.

Among those on that right track Monday was the Czech duo of Robert Novotny and Kristian Hynek (Free Cycling/Factor Bike), who scored a well-earned stage win ahead Christof Bischof and Martin Gujan (Swiss Machine). The 18-plus minute gap pushed the Czechs into the overall lead, 16:58 in front of their Swiss counterparts.

Stage one winners Andy Eyring and Lukas Kaufmann (Team European Youngsters) had a disastrous day, finishing 13th on the stage and falling to 12th, an hour and 48 minutes behind the leaders.

"I have bad stomach, I crashed, we had mechanical problems," said Kaufmann. "Basically everything went wrong."

Stories of woe were commonplace on a day when only 61 of 104 teams finished in front of the original 11-hour cut off, a mark that was extended by 30 minutes given the length of the stage and the inclement weather.

And even with clemency, a packed autobus rolled into town at 7pm, 13 hours after the 6am start back in Mucuge.

In the women's category Ivonne Kraft and Celina Carpinteiro took their second straight stage win, as did the mixed duo of Jenny and Brian Smith.

It was the perfect way for Brian to celebrate his birthday.

"Usually I only get 4-5 people to come on my birthday ride," said Smith. "Today it was 200 and it was an amazing ride."

Racing in Brazil continues Tuesday with stage 3's 85km Rio de Contas circuit. Total climbing is 1746 metres - and arguably most important of all - the stage doesn't start until 8 a.m., two hours later than Monday's monster.

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