[music] Mark: The race that we've all been waiting
for. Triathletes versus cyclists. Our so-called cycling friends love to make gibes us triathletes
for being a Jack of all trades, not wearing socks, and in their opinion, simply inferior
to them. Well, it is time to set the score straight. We have invited our friends along
from GCN for a head-to-head battle on Zwift. Conor: Oh, Mark's calling me.
Mark: Hey, Conor, how's it going? Conor: Just ticking away here.
Mark: Cool. Look mate, I've got an idea, how about we settle this little rivalry between
GCN and GTN? Look, here it is, Zwift have set up a race for us on the Road to Ruins
course. I'm thinking we select three athletes from each side and we put them up against
each other. How about it? Conor: Are you sure. Sure you want to take
that challenge on, Mark? Mark: Yes. Why not?
Conor: Yes, I guess why not? You're going to need to bring your A-game, Mark.
Mark: Oh, fighting talk. Conor: All right, I'm just going to get Manon
on the call. All right here we go. Manon: Conor? Hi, Conor.
Conor: Hey, Manon. I just had a call with Mark actually. Guess what. [laughs] He wants
to take GCN on race in Zwift. Manon: Again? That guy.
Conor: I know. I don't know what he's thinking. He can't even find his own socks, how's he
going to beat us? I know. Anyway, I think we should just show him who's boss. Would
you reckon? I think we should get Hank in on it. What about you? You're up for it?
Manon: Yes, count me in. Conor: Awesome. Right. I'll see you there.
Okay. See you. Bye Manon. Mark: All right. You see what we're up against
here, but I'm not going to let that get the better us. Today, I'm bringing in our very
own Heather as well as guest presenter, Sam, to race for us triathletes. We're going to
be racing over the 29.6-kilometres Road to Ruins course, a course that has a mix of everything
really. Hopefully not playing into anyone's particular and specific strengths. The battle
doesn't just stop today because we're opening this up as a mass participation event. You
can choose as to whether you want to represent the triathletes or the cyclists this coming
week. Hopefully, as a collective team, you can represent those cyclists or triathletes
and settle this battle or once and for all. On that note, let's get on with today's race.
[music] Mark: Okay, GCN and GTN. We are just moments
away from starting this big race. I just want to run through the point system for this race.
We're going with a point system of 10, 9, 8, 6, 4, 2, in terms of where you finish.
Now, obviously, we've only got one female on each team, so we're actually going to double
the points for the female. Figure out yourself in terms of tactics. Do you want to protect
that female, get some extra points from them, or is it just every man for themselves? I'm
not going to give you a long to think about it, because we're going in five, four, three,
two, one, let's go. [music]
[crosstalk] Conor: I'm the last. I'm going to far off.
[laughter] Manon: Thanks so much to you.
Hank: Conor, you know the plan, don't you? Conor: Yes, I know the plan. I think we need
to look out for Manon, though. We need to make sure that Manon beats Heather as well.
Hank: Yes, I'm with you there! Mark: Whilst GCN conjures a plan, we're trying
to stick together as a team to protect Heather. GCN is already laying the power down and opening
up a gap. We have a big decision to make. Manon: If I come sixth, and you guys come
first and second, is that not better? Conor: Do you have to ask to do that?
Mark: Heather has dropped. Sam: Sign out.
[music] Mark: They're just following us now. Whilst
there's more of them, we have got a bit of control here.
Conor: Well, we managed to properly flick Heather, she's a minute down now. Good work
team. [music]
Mark: All right. Let's see who follows us and try to figure out their game plan a little.
Hank appears to be covering every move. [music]
Conor: How are you feeling, Sam? You all right? Sam: Quite worn. Hopefully I'll feel better
as it goes on. Manon: I hope it [crosstalk].
Sam: I was not ready for that early effort. Mark: We've got 22 K to go, anything can happen.
[music] Mark: I thought I'd let a gap go whilst Manon
was on my wheel in an attempt to drop her, but it seems like Conor had a similar plan
for me. Sam: I'm trying to take Mark out the back
with me. [laughter]
Conor: I have as well. There's a gap. Manon and Hank are away with Sam. I've been dropped
so far. [crosstalk]
Mark: Huh? Maybe I can use that same plan on Conor.
[crosstalk] Mark: Yes, Conor, you're just like [crosstalk].
Conor: Is it [unintelligible 00:06:37]. Mark: I take it you're just sprinting to catch
up with Hank. Maybe I can use that same plan on Conor.
Manon: Oh my God, worth going. Now he's just speeding.
Heather: Come on, guys. Make Manon work [unintelligible 00:06:52] today it's a big one.
Sam: I've sat on Manon's rear at the moment. I'm wasting. That's what I call it.
Manon: Sitting on the top. Conor: Sit on the front, Manon, because I'll
come back to you. Mark: Whilst Conor desperately tries to get
himself back on, I've gone through the group and off the front, taking Hank with me. This
just got very exciting. [music]
Hank: That sign across the road. Conor: I know this is where I'm coming up.
Do you know the rest of the terrain? Hank: I haven't got a clue.
Conor: You're the one that rode around it for 24 hours.
Mark: I know. It's still all a blur. Manon: Should we try and manage the gap a
bit or just keep it- still let it go out? Conor: I've got that as well.
Mark: David for the attack. I'm just sat on my wheel. I'm trying to ease off, but not
too much. Conor: Yes, both [unintelligible 00:07:58]
three, two, one, now. Mark: GCN had some [unintelligible 00:08:04]
three. Hank: They both [unintelligible 00:08:06].
Mark: They're both attacking really [crosstalk]. Heather: Go, go, go, go, Sam. Come on. Go,
Sam. Conor: All right, come on, Manon. Go, Hank.
Manon: Come on, Hank. Do it again. ?Hank: [unintelligible 00:08:26] you got there
though. Mark: Daylight. Come on, Sam.
Conor: Come on, Manon. [crosstalk] Hank: Sail into rhythm now.
Conor: 8.1 still. Hank: Sail into rhythm. Here we go.
Heather: Come on Sam. Mark: Unfortunately, Sam is left fending for
himself against Conor and Manon, who are tactfully working together to attack him.
Conor: Just don't get dropped my me there. Hank: You're going to struggle to bring that
back. We should keep working together. Heather: Come on, Sam, dig in.
Hank: Come on, Manon. Heather: You can get them. Conor back up at
the moment. Conor: [unintelligible 00:09:17] Manon, come
on. You're on my wheel. Manon: No, second behind.
Conor: Okay, yes. I'm easing up a bit. Good work, good work.
Manon: He's coming back. Conor: Okay, recover. We'll try again, I'll
mark him then we'll regroup. Mark: I'm back on [unintelligible 00:09:43].
Conor: Nice quite there, mate. Heather: Good workGood race.
Mark: Good job, guys. Conor: Make sure you don't go again on a [crosstalk].
Mark: Solid effort. That's where the traction [crosstalk].
Conor: Attack on the bridge, Hank? Manon: Now
Mark: Let's go. Okay, attack engage. Mark: Look at Manon, she's up.
Heahter: 11. What's the kilometer on that? Conor: Oh, man, it's insane.
Hank: Oh, there are some fun events going on here in this race.
Mark: Team together. Conor: We got him, he's on the ropes.
Hank: Here you go, man. Take him now. Dig in now, you're dropping. I don't know if you
want to want to see her. Sam: I'm sorry guys, I've lost my legs today.
Conor: He's fading. Sam: You're gone. So gone.
Mark: Meanwhile, Hank and myself are off the front. Unintended but the gap is opening,
so here is a bit of mind games going on here. Hank's sitting on my wheel where he can, but
I'm pretty sure he's got more to give. Heather is just doing a sterling job at the back.
Tactics didn't quite work out, but every point counts now. Give it a roll.
Heather: Well, now we've got our money on you to persuade you. You've done a few rough
races in the last few months, and Hank's been out just having a jolly.
Sam: You've got this Mark. Heather: We've got this. Anyway, think of
what Hank be like if he beat you? [unintelligible 00:11:28].
Sam: Hank would want to beat you, though you've got to just race him, I think.
Heather: Go Mark. Ho'w's that going? Mark: It's slightly [unintelligible 00:11:42].
Conor: We've got it back here, we're safe. Just make sure you get him.
Hank: Yeah, man, I'll do my best. Conor: Don't forget to sprint past me, Manon.
Manon: I think you deserve extra [unintelligible 00:11:58].
Conor: We need the double points. Mark: Meanwhile, I don't really back myself
in a sprint against Hank, so I'm nervously trying to figure out how I can beat him to
the line. Hank: 2K okay to go.
Heather: Oh, come on. You got two minutes on the cases [unintelligible 00:12:17]. Go
Mark. [music]
Heather: Come on Mark. Manon: Go on.
Mark: Come on Mark. Let's go, Mark. Heather: Let's go, Mark. [crosstalk]
Conor: All right good effort. Good effort mate.
Heather: [unintelligible 00:12:52] Conor: He's done it. He's off the start.
Hank: The Batman won. Unfortunately, my sprint wasn't enough to match Mark. Anyway, next
time, I'll have you Mark. Mark my word. Conor: Hey, man, I'm over the line, and then
we'll celebrate. 200 meters to go and we have done it. We've brought home the bacon.
Hank: Yes, team. Conor: Manon still up to the grinder. Absolute
grinder. [music]
Mark: So, unfortunately, it doesn't look like we're going to take the overall team win today,
but I gave it my all just to at least pip Hank and take that top spot. There is a little
bit of glory for the triathletes today, and the rest of the team have done an amazing
job of trying to follow attacks, but our pacing and our tactics didn't quite work out today.
I'm proud of what we did, and now you guys get to give it a go too.
[music] [00:14:07] [END OF AUDIO]