Arts student crowned world endurance bike champion

Macquarie University student and current Sport Scholarship holder, Andrew Clark, cycled his way into the number one spot in the under 23 division of the World Solo 24 Hour Mountain Bike Championships held in Italy recently.

The grueling race, which took place in Finale Ligure, Italy on May 19-20, involved around 2,000 competitors all aiming to ride more laps than their opponents in 24 hours without stopping to rest or sleep.

The race, organised by the World Endurance Mountain Biking Organisation (WEMBO), attracts competitors from around the world. It takes place on a single track with panoramic trails on the sea, combining technical sections with steep uphills and fast downhills.

The winner of the 24-hour race is generally the person who is mentally strongest, has an effective pit crew supporting him and is capable of continually meeting his fluid and carbohydrate intake targets, according to Clark who described his race experience as “fantastic”.

Clark won in the U/23 category defeating two Italians in second and third place by a comfortable margin thereby earning him a coveted WEMBO ‘rainbow’ (world champions) jersey.

Clark is in his third year at Macquarie studying for a Bachelor of Arts (Modern History) Law. He won the University’s Ted O’Keefe Scholarship in 2011 for his sporting and academic achievements as well as service contributions.