5 days 11 hours 38 minutes is how long it took Nick Clarke to complete the grueling Atlas Mountain Race in February 2020 across the unforgiving Moroccan landscape.
The unsupported fixed route race from Marrakesh to Sidi Rabat is a distance of 1150 km with 20,000 mtrs of climbing in the Atlas Mountains and 3 checkpoints along the way. The clock doesn’t stop until the end.
Nick was racing for Arctic-Aircon Racing Team, one of the longest running UK sponsored/supported race teams with 23 years in British Cycling. Nick is also a founding member of Berkhamsted Cycling Club.
He started the event in full-on race mode and was in the top 20 for most of the race. Nick had to overcome one or two setback’s along the way including a crash, loosing his water bottles, 5 snapped wheel spokes, failure of his bike luggage and saddle sores. However his legs held out fine.
Single-mindedness and determination saw Nick finish in a highly creditable 33rd position.
200 riders started the race and 123 finished with Pro-Continental rider Christen Mayer one of the non-finishers due to saddle sores.
Nick has vowed to return next year or take on another long distance race.
The AMR2020 organisers are broadcasting a video story of the race from Wednesday 20th May 2020 on YouTube.
Photo credits to:
Saltlake Lian https://www.instagram.com/saltlake_lian/
Nils Laengner https://www.instagram.com/nils_laengner/
Jonny Hines https://www.instagram.com/jonnyhinesphoto/
Atlas Mountain Race https://atlasmountainrace.cc/
