The Manx 100 has been confirmed as The HSBC British Cycling National Marathon Championships for 2018.
The 2017 Championships were held on the Isle of Man and it is an excellent result for the Manx 100 organising team to have been able to secure the championships for a second year.
Event Organiser, Nigel Morris, commented:
“We met or exceeded all of British Cycling’s requirements before, during and after the event due to the fantastic work by all of the marshals, police, St John Ambulance, local businesses, people, and government agencies involved.
British Cycling is very happy to maintain the Marathon Mountain Biking Championship event over the single lap 100km route. Elite rider, Ben Thomas, who placed 2nd in 2017, concluded that with a few minor changes it would be as good as the best UCI Marathon Events he competes in within Europe.”
The 2017 Championship was won by Tom Bell in 5 hours 16 minutes, with Ben Thomas just 18 seconds behind and Paul Oldham a further couple of minutes adrift.
In addition, the event will also host the 2018 Manx Mountain Bike Marathon Championships over a 100 mile route, which includes a 15,500 foot climb. This was won by Phil Simcock in a time of 10 hrs 22minutes in 2017.
It also includes the Manx 50 which takes in the final 50km of the route in the central and southern areas of the Island and is a great introduction to the fun and suffering that is the Manx 100’s ethos.
The 2018 event is on the 29th July 2018 and the “100” will start at 06:30 at the TT Grandstand whilst the “50” begins at 2pm in St Johns.
The 2017 “100” event attracted 112 entries from its 151 field from the UK or beyond. With support teams, it is estimated that 250 people visited the Isle of Man over the weekend.
Mr Skelly, Minister for the Department of Economic Development thanked the organisers, and is already looking forward to 2018.
Photo - Top 3 British Cycling Mountain Bike Marathon Championship Manx 100 Isle of Man: Tom Bell (1st), Ben Thomas (2nd), Paul Oldham (3rd). Co, photo credit to be given to Luke Phair.
