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Bennett 1st home in VTT Marathon

Steve Bennett on his S-Works Epic

Pearce Cycles veteran XC rider Steve Bennett was first rider home in the 80kms Mandragore VTT marathon last weekend. This tough event runs one way from Confolens to Nieul across the Haute Vienne in France. Steve has been 3rd rider home twice in the 100kms route, and crashed out in 2008 breaking a collar bone and three ribs.

"This was my first event on my new S-Works Epic, and it was fantastic. My Epic is simply the best XC race bike I have ever ridden. Fast, comfortable, efficient, and a blast to ride. I was getting dropped on some of the climbs by the young guys, but I was able to motor back up to them effortlessly on the rough stuff.

I usually do the 100kms route, but this year I'm a bit short on kms so I went for the 80kms. The first 50kms is the same for both anyway, and at the split I was still within a couple of minutes of the leaders.

Actually, it was this event last year that made my mind up to go to 'full suss' this year. The last 20kms are really brutal, and I remember being beat up by my bike. This year it was different!" - Steve Bennett

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