Red Bull Sea to Sky – Forest Race

From the beach to the forest and back again. Saturday was Forest Race day at the Red Bull Sea to Sky 2013.

Staying put at the sharp end of the results Jonny Walker kept his winning streak alive with victory in the Forest Race. As the first rider to be flagged away at 10.00 hrs, Walker was never caught. Despite being hindered with laying a path for his rivals to follow, the KTM rider kept charging throughout the 37km race.

Carefully navigating the floating pier at the very end, Walker crossed the finish line as the winner and earned himself another ‘bag of sand’ – that’s €1000 for those not down with the Keswick lingo.

Fourth to start the race, Andreas Lettenbichler kept his Husqvarna shiny side up and chased Walker home for second. Placing 90 seconds behind the KTM rider he also finished 54 seconds in front of Graham Jarvis.

Starting ninth, Graham Jarvis had hoped to benefit by following the path cut in by his rivals. But with some sections proving dusty, Jarvis rode a cautious race to take third and more importantly a front row start for the Mountain Race. After remaining under the radar up until now, is Jarvis beginning to peak just in time for the main event?

Finishing four minutes behind Walker, Alfredo Gomez was unable to end the Forest Race on the podium and had to settle for fourth.

Mexico’s Homero Diaz completed the top five.

The Red Bull Sea to Sky concludes tomorrow, Sunday September 29, with the main event – the Mountain Race – a flat out race from Kemer’s shoreline to the 2365m high summit of the Olympus Mountain. Can Jarvis defend his title or will Walker claim a hat trick of wins in this year’s Red Bull Sea to Sky.

Red Bull Sea to Sky 2013 – Forest Race (provisional)

1. Jonny Walker (UK, KTM); 2. Andreas Lettenbichler (GER, Husqvarna); 3. Graham Jarvis (UK, Husaberg); 4. Alfredo Gomez Cantero (ESP, Husaberg); 5. Homero Diaz (MEX, KTM); 6. Harry Neumayr (GER, KTM); 7. Paul Bolton (UK, KTM); 8. Philipp Scholz (GER, KTM); 9. Dougie Lampkin (UK, GASGAS); 10. Andy Noakley (UK, KTM)…