Camp Gobi Erdene, Mongolia. Today´s stage was
effectively a liaison, with no special tests. With a generous time
allowance the competitors were instructed to make the most of the
scenery as they rode. By the end of the day all were voicing complete
satisfaction as Mongolia turned magnificent. Most notably the GS
riders appreciated the breathtaking Dungeene Canyon where the riders
rode along the gravel river bed for 20km between rock cliffs 100m high
and sometimes only 5m apart! And then the biggest surprise – finding
the river frozen for one section (making for a tricky crossing!).
After this the course took a short climb up onto the Yucca Plateau,
again a surprise, for within minutes the riders had transitioned from
a deep gorge to a high plain. A refuel in the village of Bayandalai
again reminded the riders that this was Mongolia, a sparsely populated
remote country, as they queued for the one pump operated by the one
elderly Mongolian lady outside the one rendered building on the edge
of the village, most of the other buildings being yurts (also known as
gers), save for a school building. All roads here being unpaved.
The 100 km from here to the finish at Camp Gobi Erdene was – as ever
– entire different. Instead of a high plateau the riders found
themselves weaving along a vast flood plain between two mountain
ridges – and such geology meant rock was mixed with the sand, adding
yet more technicality to the ride. And finally to the west of the
trail rose sand dunes – beautifully lit, too, in the late afternoon
sun. And what a stunning end to the day, the GS riders pitching their
Marmot tents at the gateway to the sands of the Gobi Desert.
So far from being ‘boring’, day three has proved to be the most
enjoyable yet. While the terrain continues to be difficult the GS
riders are adapting, learning. The Mongolian terrain deserves respect,
but for all that it demands it is repaying with an experience so rich,
so unique that the riders are having the rides of their lives.
Quotes:
Francisco Lopez, Team Latin America: “Today was awesome, it was
great to watch the desert, to see the dunes, and we had good trails
today, we had fun. As today’s stage had been altered and made a
liaison we thought it was going to be boring, but it wasn’t, it was
really interesting, we had grass, gravel and sand – so you needed your
skills too. The canyon was beautiful, we woke to a temperature of 19ºC
so to ride into there and find ice and then to go back out onto a vast
plain to the warmth of the day – it was beautiful.”
Jamie Jones, Team Canada: “Out of 10, I’d have to rate this
experience as a 12 or 13! Certainly I’ve never done anything like this
before, for me it´s awesome to come here to Mongolia, never having
been here, it’s really cool to see the terrain and the country, it’s
amazing the expanse, how it keeps going and going. In Canada we have
space but we don’t have the trails that just lead off the road
everywhere, unmarked and gravel, it´s really different. And when we
find these Mongolians living out in the wilderness I’m asking myself
what are they doing here – it’s taken us three and a half hours to
ride out this far. It’s just normal for them, but they must have a
good grocery supplier for food – and water! And I love how the animals
are out there on their own, and they seem to just hang around, there
are no fences but they don’t take off, you couldn’t have that back home.”
BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy 2018
Central Asia.
Day Two overall standings:
1 Korea 77 points
2 South Africa 68
3 Germany 56
4 France 54
5 Latin America 53
6 USA 48
7 UK 44
7 Argentina 44
9 Japan 38
9 Russia 38
11 Canada 35
11 China 35
13 Australia 33
14 Mexico 31
15 Southeast Asia 29
16 India 24
17 Ausamerica (female team) 15
18 Euafrica (female team) 5
Find all information about the BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy
2018 Central Asia at the dedicated website www.gstrophy.com.
Find press material on BMW motorcycle, Original BMW Motorrad
accessories and BMW Motorrad rider equipment in the BMW Group
PressClub at www.press.bmwgroup.com.
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