July 04, 2010 (Inner Mongolia, China) – Amidst the rolling grasslands of Mongolia, once tramped by Genghis Khan’s mounted armies, a different kind of horde was riding this week – the Genghis Khan MTB Adventure ran from July 1-3 reports nordicways.com. Sweden’s veteran xc skier Bjorn Lind was on the start line as he and Peter Larsson continued their excursion in China following the Chinese Summer Ski Tour – read more here.

July 1 – Stage 1 offered riders either an 18km (11-mile) short race or the 48km (30-mile) long race. After an opening ceremony with traditional folk music and a bonfire, riders launched from the start line like Khan’s long-ago arrows, a departure from the more pedestrian start to most classic cycling races. The competitors faced searing 34 degree centigrade (92 Farenheit) on the dusty course which crossed gravel roads, open grassland and boiling tarmac.  Sweden’s Lind fared well finishing in 5th place despite an ankle injury which prevented him from racing the Chinese Lidingoloppet cross-country running race a few days ago.   Canada’s Jennifer Hillman also raced well placing 2nd in the women’s 48km stage.

July 2nd – Stage 2 was another 48km (30-mile) battled across Mongolia’s plains. Temperatures were again in the 30 degree C (90 F) range, but riders were greeted with soothing water at the finish line from a fountain which according to local legend, has special healing powers and may have been visited by traveling armies hundreds of years ago. Hillman was able to hold on to her 2nd place from the day before.

July 3rd – Stage 3 was the toughest leg of the race at 82km (51 miles). This proved to be an advantage for Lind, who posted his best result of the three days coming in 3rd, just over three minutes behind the race winner, China’s Wang Lei. Canada’s Hillman was in the medals again also finishing 3rd.

Hillman claimed 2nd overall while Lind landed on the podium in third overall. Due to his ankle injury, Lind will likely not contest in the Grassland Extreme Marathon on Sunday, July 4, which is the final leg of his and Larsson’s Chinese adventures. Larsson, however, should be on the start line.

Results

Stage 1

Women – 48km
1. Cheng Shasha
2. Jennifer Hillman      (Canada)
3. Lin Ying

Men – 48km
1. Wang Lei            (Beijing)
2. Feng Kuanjie         (Beijing)
3. Jim Knudsen         (Denmark)

Stage 2

Women – 48km
1. Cheng Shasha       (China)
2. Jennifer Hillman      (Canada)
3. Joanna Turnbull       (New Zealand)

Men – 48km
1. Cui Hao             (China)
2. Feng Kuanjie         (China)
3. Wang lei             (China)

Stage 3

Women – 82km
1. Cheng Shasha        (China)
2. Joanna Turnbull       (New Zealand)
3. Jennifer Hillman      (Canada)

Men – 82km
1. Wang Lei            (China)
2. Feng Kuanjie         (China)
3. Bjorn Lind           (Sweden)

Overall

Women

1. Cheng Shasha        (China)  6:55:58.74
2. Jennifer Hillman      (Canada) 7:14:05.37
3. Joanna Turnbull       (New Zealand) 7:26:00.86

Men

1. Wang Lei            (China)  6:16:05.54
2. Feng Kuanjie         (China)  6:16:07.72
3. Bjorn Lind           (Sweden) 6:19:02.52