Cyclists set new record

Extreme team Ultra6 set three world records on Mont Ventoux by cycling the 100,000ft vertical ascent and descent on one continuous mountain climb. Previously the most anyone had achieved was 65,000ft.

It took just four days 16 hours and 14 minutes for three of the team, who had used Yorkshire’s roads as winter preparation, to complete 19.35 ascents and descents with a total height gain of 100,000ft.

At the same time, the team also set a record for the fastest 100,000ft and also the highest as a team of five at 77,519ft each giving a total of 387,595ft.

Tony Booth, managing director of All Terrain Cycles which has superstores in Wetherby and in Saltaire, near Bradford, said: “Congratulations to Ben and the guys for another great British cycling achievement.

“They took on an absolutely amazing challenge and have brought three world records home to Yorkshire.”

The team comprised All Terrain Cycles mechanic and workshop manager Ben Wood, also a member of the store’s road race team, along with two other All Terrain road team members Nick Jovanovic and Matt Robinson as well as Andy North and James Welsh.

Ben, James and Matt of Keighley and Nick and Andy from Guiseley had been planning and training for this extreme challenge for the past year.

“We had to train through the winter months on our local Yorkshire hills to ensure we had the best opportunity for success, you know if you can survive the harsh conditions whilst out on a Yorkshire training ride, then you can survive anything the French weather can throw at you,” said Andy North.

“In fact, when we arrived in France, we were faced with temperatures of 40oc which took some getting used to.”

The team were provided with the latest light weight production bikes from Spanish brand Orbea by the All Terrain Cycles stores in Shipley and Wetherby, with Endura producing team kit to match the colour scheme of the bikes.

Ben Wood, who is the workshop manager at All Terrain Cycles’ Saltaire store where he has worked for 15 years, said: “We knew that we needed to have the best and the lightest equipment for this challenge and are really grateful for all the support we have received from our sponsors and supporters.”

The Ultra6 team has already achieved two world records and undertook this latest challenge to raise funds for ABF, the Soldiers’ Charity and for M4Melanoma.

Last year, the team raised £30,000 for the Lord Mayor’s Cycle Ride, cycling 240 miles in 22 hours from Leeds to the city’s twin town of Dortmund in Germany.

In 2013, the team completed another awesome challenge for ABF, running a marathon every day and cycling 100 miles on seven consecutive days from Land’s End to John O’Groats.