Two Volcano Sprint

Not blowing up

By James Robertson

October 26^th, 2021

Sprint

Sprint. It’s funny how a single word clearly at odds with the reality of a 1200km race can have such an impact.

Despite ascending Mt. Etna twice in the first 50km some riders took the race’s name to heart and pushed the pace from the start line, flying up the climbs neck and neck, sweat dripping from their faces despite the sub-zero temperatures and frost glistening on the tarmac.

It was never going to last and as a cold and wet first night came and went the morning revealed several of the top riders had scratched while others had slipped back in the rankings: with 800km to go the real race was revealing itself.

Mount Etna, ascended twice in the first 50km.

A blocked road 270km in remained passable by bicycle, but made for a significant detour for the media team - it meant leaving riders to face the first and by the coldest and wettest night without documenting their misery. By the morning several of the lead riders had scratched.

Christian Englert rests two corners from the summit of Monte Gelbison, exhausted by the over 15% climb

2D 17H 4M

Third time’s the charm.

Andrew Philips takes first place in the Two Volcano Sprint 2021, riding 1,187km with 26,200m climbing in 2d 17h 4min. Andrew is the only solo cyclist to ride the 2VS three times.