|
12
Meet The Riders
|
|||||||||
Rebecca Lowe |
Angus Young |
Jasmijn Muller |
Veronika Widmann |
||||||
Rebecca is a freelance journalist from London , who in July 2015 set off on a year-long cycle trip through Europe and the Middle East . In her job she ’ d regularly reported from the region and was very aware that it had long been misunderstood and misrepresented in the West . So partly in an effort to try to address the stereotyping , and partly out of a supreme spirit of adventure , she set off on a solo cycle ride from London to Azadi Square , Tehran . Her trip took her across 11,000km of often extreme terrain in conditions that soared to 48 degree heat and would have challenged the most battle-hardened expeditionist . Told by a friend before setting off that the odds of never seeing her again were probably 60:40 , she none-the-less survived the ride and her epic journey became the subject of her book The Slow Road to Tehran . |
Rawvelo Athlete
Angus is a teacher and ultra cyclist . He caught the cycling bug after a cycle touring trip down France with a friend and since then his bikepacking trips have taken him all over the world including a 6000km trip from Kyrgyzstan to Mongolia through Kazakhstan and China , as well as several trips in Europe and more recently on various epic challenges here in the UK . As well as helping to organise the 2,000-kilometre GBDURO gravel race from Land ’ s End to John O ’ Groat ’ s , he crossed the line in first place last year only to be DQd after being forced to switch bikes due to mechanical failure .
|
Rawvelo Athlete
Growing up in the Netherlands , Jasmijn used to ride her bike to school and around town like any other Dutch child . But she didn ’ t start cycling as a serious sport until she was in her early 30s and living in the UK . Jasmijn is now one of the world ’ s foremost endurance cyclists . She has set the Zwift static bike distance record , been national and world 24-hour time trial champion , ridden London-Edinburgh-London , Paris-Brest-Paris – as well as countless other Audax and endurance events – and had two Land ’ s End to John o ’ Groats record attempts .
|
Vero races around the world for the Madison Saracen Factory Race Team , but home is Bozen in South Tyrol , northern Italy which by no coincidence is right in the middle of the Alps and a paradise for riding bikes . She started riding at an early age , racing cross country at 12 , but after university she switched to downhill and her European Cup win in 2019 , third overall in the World Cup and an Italian national championship would suggest she made the right choice . As well as being very fast downhill on a bike , Vero is also a trained nurse which must come in handy given her first choice of job .
|
||||||
Matt Walker |
Olly Wilkins |
Hans Rey |
Chris Akrigg |
||||||
|
Matt earnt his chops on the development programme for the Madison Saracen Factory Race Team under the guidance of MBUK downhill legend Will Longden . That groundwork definitely paid dividends – after just three years of racing in the Elite ranks the flying Brit was crowned 2020 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Series champion . Expectations for the 2022 season are understandably high for the 22 year old Shropshire rider , so make sure you keep an eye on those World Cup race podiums .
|
Focus Bikes Team Rider
Olly is what you might call a multi-tasker . He rides for Focus bikes and can pretty much turn his hand to any type of riding , but it ’ ll be a set of dirt jumps where you ’ re most likely to see Olly in his element . When not out on his bike , he ’ s chief designer for DMR and has had a hand in the brand ’ s best-loved bikes and kit over the years . He also travels the world making mountain bike films and along with Davi Birks produces The Ride Companion podcast ( which is top notch and should not be missed ). It ’ s also rumoured that he ’ s quite good at basketball .
|
GT 50th Anniversary Special Guest
When it comes to discussing mountain biking legends , 9 times out of 10 , Hans Rey will be the first name on the list . He rides for GT and has done for longer than any of us can remember . It ’ s hard to name a country where Hans hasn ’ t ridden his bike , either wowing crowds with his awesome trials skills , as a stuntman on films and TV , or travelling through on his off-road adventure trips around the globe . He ’ ll be on the GT Anniversary stand each day and on Saturday there ’ ll be a special showing of his latest film Slay the Bay and afterwards the great man will be chatting about the film , the California riding scene and its place in MTB folklore .
|
GT 50th Anniversary Special Guest
Chris Akrigg is a one of a kind . He ’ s been riding mountain bikes for a long time , making his name on the pages of MBUK as a Mongoose trials pro back in the 1990s . His riding has steadily morphed over the years into what can best be described now as a brilliant freeriding blend of skills and creativity . The Yorkshire native has appeared in countless videos taking on terrain that most mountain bikers would dismiss as unrideable . Chris , however , revels in riding the ‘ horrible stuff ’ and with a style that is uniquely his .
|