Urge Kenya Part II
More Than Just a Race
Words by Fred Glo.
Date: 2009-02-23
If you missed part one of this article click here.
Mark Weir, follow by Wildhaber and Simmons reach the start area first, between snow patches at 16 000 ft. just shy of Lenana summit at 16 400 ft. Everyone is hugging and shaking hands to congratulate each other on this first victory. This Altruism is a pleasure to see and the riders’ and porters’ solidarity makes for a beautiful moment. The emotion keeps growing until we unfurl the “Yes We Can” banner for the group photo. A symbol in this country, the cradle of humanity, and the birthplace of Barack Obama Sr - the President’s father. A message of hope from the United States all the way to Africa. It was clear that no one would be coming back from the Urge Kenya without unforgettable memories.
"Don't call me Godfather!" Wade gets stigmatized with his personalized number plate.
Giving his all, Yvaral Villier finally reaches the top out of breath. Everyone is very disappointed for Alex. Nobody wanted to see one of us fail to reach the top but the mountain is in charge. Barel is here as well with his arm tightly strapped around the chest. How is he going to go down? Going up is one thing but down on a trail as technical as this one? The ones who know him well will tell you that Fabien can push the limit of pain very far but serious doubts are in everyone’s mind.
But this is his event and he wants to share it with everyone until the end and he will take his start as planned, ahead of everyone at 10am promptly. We all look at him, 30ft, 60ft, 200ft, 400ft and we see him dropping into the steep downhill. Everyone is hoping his shoulder feels better once he warms up.
The three token Anglos. Left to right - Wade Simmons, Mark Weir and Darren Berrecloth.
It was planned this way; Fabien was to participate but he would also be the fore runner, starting 30 min ahead of the rest. The other riders will start at 2 minute intervals called by Zanini. What Fabien was unable to tell them is that he made a mistake and went off track, freeriding on a technical edge and almost everyone followed his tracks well marked by a defrosting ground.
Fabien was first down the mountain - with a broken Scapula.
Remy Absalon was charging trying to make up time and he ended up on a cliff. He has to backtrack and loses 15 minutes. Fortunately for him, René Wildhaber finds a better way down the mountain. Having completely recovered from his lack of energy on the previous day, he rocks down the track and puts time into everyone on the physical parts in the middle sections and the two climbs on the course. 
Fabien wasn't in too much of a hurry to please the crowd.
The faster DH riders like Vouilloz lost too much time finding the track or were limited by injuries like Fabien. René gets a well-deserved victory as he manages to manoeuvre through all the obstacles - on race day and throughout the rest of this adventure. He forges a bond with the porters and cooks with his interest in them and his humility. Urge Kenya couldn’t have hoped for a better ambassador. His time of 1 hour and 17 minutes beat even the most optimistic forecast of an hour and a half.
Nicolas Vouilloz takes a break from winning rally races to ride his bike in Kenya for a good cause.
Vouilloz rolls into second place, friendly and happy and just ahead of Barel who rounded out the podium just in front of Sam Peridy - the grand daddy of the event who really was thrilled to participate in this adventure.
Wade rides to an impressive 5th place - despite being off his bike for several months due to snow on the North Shore mountains.
Wade Simmons surprises everyone with 5th place. The godfather of Freeride bested a lot of Enduro racing specialists. His snowshoe training at home in North Vancouver really paid off. Simmons brings Zen and fair play to the event and is an excellent addition.
René Wildhaber didn't take any time to smell the flowers on the way down. He was out to win.
Absalon passes the finish line showing solidarity as he pushes Mark Weir, the unlucky man of the event, who has a double flat in the last part of the track. Mark keeps smiling as always and appreciates what life gives him. A real Champ!
Darren Berrecloth in 7th impressed everyone. As a slopestyle rider he’s expected to excel in photo shoots and on video but not as a fast racer. Always ready to help, first one on the top of bus to load and unload, The Bearclaw proved to everyone that mountain bikers are one big family.
Yvaral Villiers rolled in for 9th place, completely exhausted at the end (he even threw up mid race), he represented the spirit of the even perfectly: Pushing the body and mind to the limit in order to reach the goal. Alex Balaud was very disappointed but he insisted in doing his run from 14000 Ft. and he enjoyed the party at the finish. He even won the wooden handle bar prize given to the last rider for fun.
The Claw rides hard and proves his more than just a huck monkey.
In the end this event was not only about competition but also solidarity and group support. This held up a mirror to the world’s problems for all of us. Imagine if people of all nations could come together in this way?
The 10,000 Euro donation brings some water to a dry well for the Massai people. Urge Kenya also provided work for porters, guides, leaders and their families as well as permanent activity through our travel agency, Cap liberté which will sell this trip all year long.
We will all be able to share and shed some light on what we did and what we witnessed in Africa. We can change the world and we must.
Our views as athletes from the ‘first world’ are not incompatible with those held in Africa. If we respect each other unity is possible. Every participant is proud to have written a unique page in the mountain bike history book. The next challenge for the organisation will be to follow up Urge Kenya with the same spirit and ethos.
Hakuna Matata
Can events like Urge Kenya make a difference in Africa? Is this a trip you'd like to do? Say anything at all here...
If you missed part one of this article click here.
For more info and video from the event head over to urgekenya.com
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