Australia riders Jason English and Jessica Douglas became the first WEMBO 24-hour solo mountain bike racing world champions in the toughest single-day mountain bike race in the world. 136 riders from 15 nations gathered at Finale Ligure, Italy to decide who was the best of the best.
The Finale Ligure course is well known by Europe's 24-hour riders, having hosted events for over a decade, but it was the first time English and Douglas had ridden on Italian soil. The Ligurian coast provided a spectacular setting for the race, with many international riders staying after the race to enjoy the area.
In the men's race, Australian champion English completed 22 laps of the challenging course to take the win, while Douglas tackled Rickie Cotter (United Kingdom) to take the women's title.
In early running, Thomas Widhalm (Austria) lead the field with English a bike length behind for the first five and a half hours, but after losing time to a mechanical just before sunset, Widhalm's misery was compounded by a stomach complaint which eventually took him out of the race. But English had begun to mark his dominance before that. While Widhalm was dealing with his mechanical, English put in two blistering laps to pull out a sizeable lead going into the night. By the time racing finished at 13:00 on Sunday, he had completed 22 laps of the 17.16km course - just under 380km in 24 hours. Through the night England's Jason Miles put in a heroic performance to rise through the field to take second place. A consistent ride from fellow countryman Craig Bowles was good enough for the third step of the podium.
With the women, it was a closer race and in early running Cotter pushed Douglas hard as they drew away from the field. The two leaders split at the nine-hour mark and as the night wore on, Douglas extended her lead little by little. By the morning her lead had grown to about 50 minutes and Cotter couldn't close in. Megan Dimozantos (New Zealand) completed the elite women's podium.
The 2013 WEMBO 24-hour solo world championships will take place in Canberra, Australia in October and then return to the northern hemisphere to Fort William in Scotland in October 2014.
The following video is filmed and edited by RITM - Rock In The Middle. Music is by Survival - Moon Furies and We singing - Frank Sent Us.
Full Results
| # | Rider Name (Country) | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jason English (Australia) | 22 | laps |
| 2 | Jason Miles (Great Britain) | 21 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Craig Bowles (Great Britain) | 21 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| 4 | Michael Kochendörfer (Germany) | 20 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
| 5 | Matthew Warner-Smith (France) | 20 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
| 6 | Philip Simcock (Great Britain) | 20 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
| 7 | Dave Powell (Great Britain) | 20 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
| 8 | Bruno Sombreireiro Gomes (Portugal) | 19 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
| 9 | Stefan Hutmacher (Switzerland) | 18 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
| 10 | Matteo Melis (Italy) | 17 | Row 9 - Cell 3 |
| 11 | Josué Duarte (Portugal) | 17 | Row 10 - Cell 3 |
| 12 | Stefano Bergeretti (Italy) | 16 | Row 11 - Cell 3 |
| 13 | Kristof Stes (Belgium) | 16 | Row 12 - Cell 3 |
| 14 | Thomas Widhalm (Austria) | 15 | Row 13 - Cell 3 |
| 15 | Marco Maurizio (Italy) | 15 | Row 14 - Cell 3 |
| 16 | Andrew Howett (Great Britain) | 15 | Row 15 - Cell 3 |
| 17 | Markus Hager (Germany) | 14 | Row 16 - Cell 3 |
| 18 | Jochen Waldherr (Austria) | 14 | Row 17 - Cell 3 |
| 19 | Jaume Ribosa de Gracias (Spain) | 13 | Row 18 - Cell 3 |
| 20 | Daniele Bormida (Italy) | 12 | Row 19 - Cell 3 |
| 21 | Christian Kaiser (Germany) | 11 | Row 20 - Cell 3 |
| 22 | Morgan Pilley (Australia) | 10 | Row 21 - Cell 3 |
| 23 | Renè Manse (France) | 9 | Row 22 - Cell 3 |
| 24 | Marcus Wallmeyer (Germany) | 9 | Row 23 - Cell 3 |
| 25 | Juergen Jansen (Germany) | 9 | Row 24 - Cell 3 |
| 26 | Felix Breske (Germany) | 9 | Row 25 - Cell 3 |
| 27 | Paolo Laureti (Italy) | 9 | Row 26 - Cell 3 |
| 28 | Rudolf Springer (Austria) | 7 | Row 27 - Cell 3 |
| 29 | Alessio Bisio (Italy) | 7 | Row 28 - Cell 3 |
| 30 | Tom Haacke (Germany) | 6 | Row 29 - Cell 3 |
| 31 | Tom Van de Velde (Belgium) | 5 | Row 30 - Cell 3 |
| 32 | Michael Kalivoda (Germany) | 4 | Row 31 - Cell 3 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jessica Douglas (Australia) | 19 | laps |
| 2 | Rickie Cotter (Great Britain) | 18 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Megan Dimozantos (New Zealand) | 17 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| 4 | Giuliana Massarotto (Italy) | 16 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
| 5 | Lisa Kamphausen (Germany) | 15 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
| 6 | Mona Petrie (SCO) | 12 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
| 7 | Silvia Accinelli (Italy) | 9 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
| 8 | Noemia Lopes (Spain) | 6 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
| 9 | Elena Perin (Italy) | 3 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matt Powell (Australia) | 17 | laps |
| 2 | Enrico Morvillo (Italy) | 17 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Francesco Cerchio (Italy) | 16 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| 4 | MARÇAL Font Solà (Spain) | 11 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
| 5 | Ambrogio Grillo (Italy) | 9 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ausilia Vistarini (Italy) | 14 | laps |
| 2 | Carolina Casacuberta (Spain) | 10 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Bec Parkes (Australia) | 5 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andrew Clark (Australia) | 15 | laps |
| 2 | Giorgio Rebori (Italy) | 12 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Jacopo Ciccarelli (Italy) | 4 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kai Saaler (Germany) | 18 | laps |
| 2 | Mattia Iulini (Italy) | 14 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Christopher Simon (Germany) | 13 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| 4 | Jason Harrod (Australia) | 12 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
| 5 | Tobias Simon (Germany) | 10 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
| 6 | Roberto Sanna (Italy) | 10 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
| 7 | Federico Scotto (Italy) | 8 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexis Matthys (Belgium) | 19 | laps |
| 2 | Simone Arici (Italy) | 17 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Anton Friedrich (Germany) | 15 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| 4 | Alessandro Filippini (Italy) | 14 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
| 5 | Matteo Spagnol (Italy) | 12 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
| 6 | Alessio Dalser (Italy) | 10 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
| 7 | Sven Rhenisch (Germany) | 8 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
| 8 | Tobias Bachsteffel (Germany) | 7 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
| 9 | Christopher Thompson (United States Of America) | 5 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
| 10 | Daniele Saccoman (Italy) | 3 | Row 9 - Cell 3 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Header Cell - Column 2 | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Silvia Müller (Germany) | 17 | laps |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Header Cell - Column 2 | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marco Nicoletti (Italy) | 19 | laps |
| 2 | Davide Arici (Italy) | 18 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Crstian Ragnoli (Italy) | 17 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| 4 | Marco Vogliotti (Italy) | 15 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
| 5 | Marco Tamagnone (Italy) | 14 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
| 6 | Thomas Hebestreit (Germany) | 14 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
| 7 | James Heraty (Great Britain) | 14 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
| 8 | Dominik Scherer (Germany) | 11 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
| 9 | Matteo Messina (Italy) | 9 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
| 10 | Luca Frioli (Italy) | 9 | Row 9 - Cell 3 |
| 11 | Diego Drago (Italy) | 8 | Row 10 - Cell 3 |
| 12 | Mauro Vanoli (Italy) | 7 | Row 11 - Cell 3 |
| 13 | Pablo Barnes (Argentina) | 7 | Row 12 - Cell 3 |
| 14 | Massino Pantusa (Italy) | 7 | Row 13 - Cell 3 |
| 15 | Pantaleone Locane (Italy) | 6 | Row 14 - Cell 3 |
| 16 | Andi Beger (Germany) | 5 | Row 15 - Cell 3 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rachel Edwards (Australia) | 16 | laps |
| 2 | Ilaria Balzarotti (Italy) | 16 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Jane Chadwick (Great Britain) | 15 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| 4 | Mirja Martin (Germany) | 13 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pere Sanchez (Spain) | 19 | laps |
| 2 | Phil Welch (Australia) | 18 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Fabrizio Valle (Italy) | 16 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| 4 | Valter Di Cesare (Italy) | 16 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
| 5 | Luca Bausone (Italy) | 14 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
| 6 | Giuseppe Bolzoni (Italy) | 12 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
| 7 | Manuel Minola Violino (Italy) | 12 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
| 8 | Stefano Ariu (Italy) | 12 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
| 9 | Stefano Catella (Italy) | 12 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
| 10 | Antonio Zannoner (Italy) | 10 | Row 9 - Cell 3 |
| 11 | Cristian Ciccarelli (Italy) | 10 | Row 10 - Cell 3 |
| 12 | Markus Hahn (Austria) | 9 | Row 11 - Cell 3 |
| 13 | Matteo Luchini (Italy) | 9 | Row 12 - Cell 3 |
| 14 | Gabriele Canepa (Italy) | 8 | Row 13 - Cell 3 |
| 15 | Clayton Locke (Australia) | 8 | Row 14 - Cell 3 |
| 16 | Davide Giribaldi (Italy) | 8 | Row 15 - Cell 3 |
| 17 | Andrea Bertani (Italy) | 6 | Row 16 - Cell 3 |
| 18 | Rainer Buschmeier (Germany) | 6 | Row 17 - Cell 3 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Merryl King (Australia) | 13 | laps |
| 2 | Eva Maria Fünfgeld (Germany) | 7 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alberto Zambelli (Italy) | 20 | laps |
| 2 | Ugo Sirigu (Italy) | 15 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Jaume Caixas (Spain) | 15 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| 4 | Hubertus Hohl (Germany) | 14 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
| 5 | Marco Moriconi (Italy) | 12 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
| 6 | Marco Copelli (Italy) | 9 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
| 7 | Marco Giacobone (Italy) | 8 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
| 8 | Luciano D'Aniello (Italy) | 8 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
| 9 | Davide Pistaceci (Italy) | 7 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
| 10 | Alberto Zanardelli (Italy) | 3 | Row 9 - Cell 3 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neil Dall (Australia) | 17 | laps |
| 2 | Markus Meier (Switzerland) | 16 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Samuel Burkart (Switzerland) | 16 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| 4 | Andrea Oreste Banchieri (Italy) | 14 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
| 5 | Pietro Bandinelli (Italy) | 8 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
| 6 | Carlo Bridi (Italy) | 3 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raffaele Verzella (Italy) | 17 | laps |
| 2 | Marco Carezzana (Italy) | 9 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Diego Gesi (Italy) | 7 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Armando Fasolo (Italy) | 4 | laps |
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