Cyclists begin the first stage of the race.
At the September Council meeting, a delegate from the Enduro Race organization was on hand to request permission to use part of the Millbrook Valley Trail system as well as sections of Zion Line, Fire Route 310and Elgar Drive for another edition of the Ganny Enduro Mountain Bike Race. This is the last race of the season, and the format has changed this year. It now takes place over two days, beginning on Saturday at the Harold Town Conservation area and wrapping upon the Millbrook Valley Trail system on Sunday. The popularity of the event has grown each year. In 2024 the event drew 143 participants, rising to 165 racers last year. This year organizers are hoping to draw 200 participants over the two-day event.
Enduro races consist of six timed stages, predominantly downhill, over the course of an adventurous ride. The sport began in Europe with the objective of getting to the top of a mountain and racing to the bottom in a time-trial. The event is designed to mimic adventuresome trail rides where friends congregate at a launching point, race each other down a hill and regroup at the bottom to do it again.
This race begins and ends at the Millbrook Agricultural Fairgrounds on Frederick Street, which offers plenty of room for parking. The races consist of a series of timed stages which are predominantly downhill. Riders are sent off in groups of ten at a time in two minute intervals. Participants choose to compete in the long course which is 42 km in length and starts at 10 am, or the 21km short course which begins an hour later. The course is monitored by Marshalls at the beginning and end of each stage, which takes between three to six minutes to complete. At the end of each stage, riders wait to be called to start the next one. The stage times for each rider are tallied to establish an overall race time for each participant.
Some of the route falls on local roads, but participants are not racing while travelling on the road portion of the journey: these sections are for transition only. Signs will be strategically placed to warn traffic about the cyclists.
This race includes rock gardens and jumps requiring significant effort resulting in a lot of downhill speed along the trails. In other words, it is not for the novice rider. Enthusiasts say the events are designed to be fun, exciting and approachable. To learn more or to register, visit www.https://www.gannyenduro.com. Welcome back!