Event Preview

John Hale

Niall Shannon

Josh Reid

Kerry MacPhee

Patrick Dewick

Jack Wright

Andrew Broadway

Andrew Hutcheson

Alex Dyson

Mike Debernardo

Jack Reid

Richard Wilson

Ricardo Wilson

Andrew Foxton

Arran Coles

Holly Seear

Steve Davidson

Amy Drysdale

Jack Howker

Danny Lane

Geoff Frost

James & Edward Roff

Chris Johnstone

Nick Tatt

David Cunnigham

Calum Harrington-Vogt

Mathieu Davy

Emma Osenton

Cassie Oddy

Seun Alaba

Suzi Burke

Carl Salisbury

Richard Sidney

Robert Nash

Jack Ferguson

Emma Fowler

Sam Davis

Josh Ibbett

Kenneth Rafferty

Niall Deans

Jake Barret-Chapman

Jack Glennie

Richard Young

Phil Marchant

Adrian Gamble

Harvey Waller

As the clock strikes midnight, The Land Between is over! It's been an action-packed three days and everything I'm hearing is that everyone has had an amazing time. It's not been plain sailing and riders will all agree it is a tough route in a tough landscape!

![WhatsApp Image 2024-08-25 at 14.57.19](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4rb47nFagYOhH363CgLgVk/3c88165c144ade8e11ec4b54518c21eb/WhatsApp_Image_2024-08-25_at_14.57.19.jpeg)
> Photo taken live & on the ground by [Restrap](https://restrap.com)

The riders who were out last night were split on the finishing loop. A few, such as __Chris Johnstone__, __David Cunningham__ and __Calum Harrington-Vogt__ decided to call it a day and finish on the first pass through Alwinton. Others, such as __Holly Seear__, __Steve Davidson__, __Jack Howker__, __Amy Drysdale__ and __Danny Lane__ overnighted in Alwinton and set out early this morning to finish it off.

The latter group of __Jack__, __Amy__ and __Danny__ were joined by __Rich__ the organiser and __Tom__ the photographer from Restrap and it looks like they all had a great ride. Really good to see that Rich has managed to have a bit of fun after his hectic day yesterday with his van breakdown! __Jack__ looks a little nonplussed at the finish, but I'm pretty sure he enjoyed it really! __Danny__ definitely thinks so.

![WhatsApp Image 2024-08-25 at 14.57.19 (4)](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1zJooZfWUETqxUv6I60EE9/583cbddbf52c5a9cff8437abfdfa8ee4/WhatsApp_Image_2024-08-25_at_14.57.19__4_.jpeg)
> Photo taken live & on the ground by [Restrap](https://restrap.com)

Ok - I've kept you waiting long enough... what we all really want to know is... did __James__ and __Edward Roff__ make it before the time-cut? The excitement around this father and son duo has been fantastic and everyone has been willing them on to finish inside time. They came into the HQ briefly early-evening and turned around very quickly to head back out and get the loop done. I'm told that __Edward__ was super enthusiastic to get it done and __James__ his dad a little less so!

I had typed the whole of the rest of this post up and was waiting for news. I am pleased to report that they made it with just a couple of minutes to spare! I have just had a photo in and news that they have won the Restrap prize for Spirit of the Race!

![WhatsApp Image 2024-08-26 at 00.08.19](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3GJfIM1EhTBqQnHK8BlbgM/16de2f2abf5d0849603456e064aefb18/WhatsApp_Image_2024-08-26_at_00.08.19.jpeg)
> Photo taken live & on the ground by [Restrap](https://restrap.com)

What a fantastic achievement for these guys and what an absolutely fantastic can-do attitude from __Edward__ especially! He and __James__ can be massively proud of what they've achieved. The whole community has come together to cheer them on as well which has been amazing to see. I got this video clip from __Alex Dyson__ of them just rolling into the finish!

![456609003 8069657659782012 3783301106231468375 n](//videos.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4JKytvBmyTDO3ZuH1nYaLL/8592f84cdebf3b6c82dc100104ce72a1/456609003_8069657659782012_3783301106231468375_n.mp4)
> [Alex Dyson](https://www.instagram.com/a__dyson/) on Instagram

Amazing. I bet you're smiling right now.

So with that, The Land Between is done for 2024 and my commentary is at an end! A massive shout out to __Rich Rothwell__ for an amazing event and to __Tom Hill__ and __Restrap__ for their photo coverage. It's flown by but it's been amazing to watch!

![WhatsApp Image 2024-08-25 at 14.57.18 (1)](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7bbAhG8cWAOGpIrlNb3MQU/7a47bcfeae9beccf4f4bee3c8cce6225/WhatsApp_Image_2024-08-25_at_14.57.18__1_.jpeg)
> Photo taken live & on the ground by [Restrap](https://restrap.com)

Congratulations again to __John Hale__ and to __Kerry MacPhee__, our fastest male and female riders, plus a big congratulations to all the riders who made it round successfully.

See you next year - I might even be tempted to give it a go myself!

Did They Make The Cut?

A quick update to say that our father and son pair, __James__ and __Edward Roff__ are just heading out onto the finishing loop, aiming to be done by midnight! Massive kudos and we hope they smash it!

![WhatsApp Image 2024-08-25 at 18.06.30](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4EkVEGOtInoWmAB5waq4vA/2b62d1e6991cc4c2f514cf7a0ae85b48/WhatsApp_Image_2024-08-25_at_18.06.30.jpeg)
> Photo taken live & on the ground by [Restrap](https://restrap.com)

![WhatsApp Image 2024-08-25 at 18.06.31](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/9qZQoJAqYHYncP8MgQoLs/588ad308dcf1bef46bd8faceaf25a9d9/WhatsApp_Image_2024-08-25_at_18.06.31.jpeg)
> Photo taken live & on the ground by [Restrap](https://restrap.com)


Our Favourite Pair

As the sun came up in Northumberland, our slumbering riders resumed their rides. It looks like a number of riders opted to sleep at the event HQ having finished the first loop and resume riding the second loop today.

A group containing __Jack Howker__, __Amy Drysdale__ and __Danny Lane__ set off at around 6am to take on the finishing loop. They were joined by our event photographer __Tom__ who took the chance to get out on a bike properly after spending a couple of days riding round in Rich's van.

__Jack__ actually had a short tracker blip last night and I was a bit concerned because it looked like he had opted to wild camp on the MOD land along Cottonhope Road but thankfully he reappeared not too long after!

![456897168 516060294293223 3056266618078003039 n](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5y1qNs75AiiulExCcZ11qV/bd532582ce625efdbf723f1fc7133cbe/456897168_516060294293223_3056266618078003039_n.jpg)
> 📸 The Land Between on Instagram

Another group opted for the same approach and set off at 5:30 this morning - __Holly Seear__ and __Steve Davidson__ are nearly back at the finish now. It looks like my theory that sleeping at HQ would be hard was totally wrong and has been by far the most popular strategy! __Calum Harrington-Vogt__ and __David Cunningham__ weren't far enough ahead to enjoy that option but look well on track to be able to finish today with under 100km to go today.

![WhatsApp Image 2024-08-24 at 14.53.38](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3PmlPhu1LxI3IjYo0bgEP7/b005548dd88db0d6a4925825fca4f9e4/WhatsApp_Image_2024-08-24_at_14.53.38.jpeg)
> Photo taken live & on the ground by [Restrap](https://restrap.com)

__James__ and __Edward Roff__ have a harder job ahead of them - they have 12.5 hours to finish off 125km. I suspect they may either call it a day at Alwinton or sleep there and finish this off on Monday outside of the official event timings. Either way, it has been an incredible ride for a 13-year-old and I'm sure they'll get a huge cheer from the riders that have already finished when they come into Alwinton later today!

![456847571 483191287838683 2526677647999981749 n](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4SMmMLJ4racZEEXIsH7FHG/f8b5da7f1083fb2c2ecccc8d9a14b841/456847571_483191287838683_2526677647999981749_n.jpg)
> 📸 The Land Between on Instagram

Hopefully by this evening's update we will have the majority of riders accounted for. Check back later for updates!

Finishing It Off

Well, today has been a busy day all round! We have seen a lot of riders finishing the ride in the past few hours and Rich has had a lot of fun on the ground with a breakdown in his van which just about crawled back to Alwinton to receive the riders home.

![WhatsApp Image 2024-08-23 at 13.23.41](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7LJ0XAKaz6YoxFVMPrDtUk/1867c4579cf9bc94c252c0f73fdbce98/WhatsApp_Image_2024-08-23_at_13.23.41.jpeg)
> Photo taken live & on the ground by [Restrap](https://restrap.com)

As I said earlier, our first finisher is __John Hale__ with __Niall Shannon__ and __Josh Reid__ rounding out the podium. On the run into the finish, __Rich__ told me he was a bit worried that they would all roll in together. Officially __The Land Between__ is not a race, after all! Thankfully the lads obliged and had a last battle. __John__ had been the only rider to briefly stop for a power nap; perhaps this rest is what enabled his win, but equally that means he also had to work to catch back up with the other two!

Our first female finisher __Kerry MacPhee__ was not too far behind them - she had been running in stealth-mode since losing her tracker near Chopwell but rode through the night to give it her best and what a ride it was!

![WhatsApp Image 2024-08-24 at 15.56.00](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2swDRG62FlxHGijDrGN5zH/0555fe9a9abd067982ff468694b7a9fe/WhatsApp_Image_2024-08-24_at_15.56.00.jpeg)
> Photo taken live & on the ground by [Restrap](https://restrap.com)

Further back in the field we have seen numerous scratches today: __Seun Alaba__ continued to struggle with health issues and called it a day. __Nick Tatt__ couldn't face the prospect of heading out onto the finishing loop and so scratched on his return to Alwinton. It seems like the railway line along Hadrians Wall has been a logical opt-out point for those scratching, such as __Cassie Oddy__, __Suzi Burke__ and __Carl Salisbury__. __Richard Sidney__ headed for the same line but at a station a little earlier in the route. __Jack Ferguson__ scratched back in Newcastle this afternoon too.

![WhatsApp Image 2024-08-24 at 09.23.31](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2Zahk75SIAhLfbALAZuPXB/77bc160fab88bc1fcba1a39e8ad46e3c/WhatsApp_Image_2024-08-24_at_09.23.31.jpeg)
> Photo taken live & on the ground by [Restrap](https://restrap.com)

One of the other things that Rich told me today is how worried he was that it looked possible the leaders would be done in under 24 hours; that the route might not actually be tough enough! I'm sure that if you talk to the riders they would disagree with that. Whilst the front runners have indeed absolutely smashed the route, I think the speeds with which we've seen riders complete the route has more to do with the calibre of rider that Rich has managed to attract to his event. We have got a really strong field of riders, with the majority of the mid-pack having smashed out 250km and 2500m ascent in the first day with a fair amount of that off-road; however, the second half of the route is undeniably tougher!

![456463300 1271933043793825 4252057704921121674 n](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5BJAOKtn2PCimE46iSQbCH/70803a08b8786ff7473ee3b631d687f9/456463300_1271933043793825_4252057704921121674_n.jpg)
> 📸 Nick Tatt on Instagram

We have eleven finishers so far (stats are all saying ten, but Kerry's tracker had failed) and a number of folks still on the finishing loop through Rothbury. Behind that we have a few folks still out in the Kielder area such as __Jack Howker__, __Geoff Frost__, __Chris Johnstone__ and __Calum Harrington-Vogt__. It will be interesting to see what their strategy is for tonight: will they stop at the start in Alwinton for the night? This would be potentially risky given how many other riders they will find there - I can imagine it would be very hard to drag yourself out on the finishing loop in the morning!

![456896781 2238678013155630 5260109932693899909 n](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6SqHbnHWPuqb3Thzyecpqz/c9377f64411c82f98bde0a249d9e9f7c/456896781_2238678013155630_5260109932693899909_n.jpg)

I'm extremely pleased to see that our father and son duo of __James__ and __Edward Roff__ are still going! They have now bedded down for the night but they are making steady progress having completed 340km and now having "only" 180km to push out tomorrow. They may have their work cut out to make the finish before the end of Sunday but I have no doubt they will receive a great welcome when they do!

I'll be back tomorrow with some more updates!

![WhatsApp Image 2024-08-24 at 09.23.25](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2WBZwz1uKDfy3f1fenMHoe/04dd7cc3fac8b23e13b1e5567f7da805/WhatsApp_Image_2024-08-24_at_09.23.25.jpeg)
> Photo taken live & on the ground by [Restrap](https://restrap.com)


A Busy Day

A little late, thanks to signal issues all round but I can confirm that the trio of __Josh Reid__, __Niall Shannon__ and __John Hale__ took the finish down to a bunch sprint! __John__ took the win with __Niall__ coming in second and __Josh__ third. 

![c285cac8-4a7d-4c15-8689-30eea0b11ac9](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5S4sjKcA575qVI4xiwhVXY/d55761654b38888c9fa6fd608815c29d/c285cac8-4a7d-4c15-8689-30eea0b11ac9.jpeg)
> Photo taken live & on the ground by [Restrap](https://restrap.com)

I’m also pleased to report that not too long after that, the invisible dot of __Kerry MacPhee__ came in fourth, an incredibly strong ride!

![68838ba8-d018-494a-af7c-5a156699b4ad](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1dHkdUWNMVOpkH1gy2frS8/e07438938e4a68964c4d874a1e2d1de8/68838ba8-d018-494a-af7c-5a156699b4ad.jpeg)
> Photo taken live & on the ground by [Restrap](https://restrap.com)

I’ll be back to report on the rest of the pack later on!

Sprint Finish


Good morning dotwatchers! As you can see, our front group are now onto the final 70km finishing loop. It looks like __Josh Reid__ and __Niall Shannon__ have managed to distance __John Hale__ but barely! I would imagine we’ll see a finisher within the next few hours.

![b83718bc-7090-4139-ae7e-27ac944a0e7c](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6KmDhOAFBLtDpgLc2wkOLH/fabca8ae17831ab3bc7090ad64f4d288/b83718bc-7090-4139-ae7e-27ac944a0e7c.jpeg)
> Photo taken live & on the ground by [Restrap](https://restrap.com)

Our pack is very fast-moving overall - apart from a small party pace group at the very back with __Jack Ferguson__, __Emma Osenton__ and __Mathieu Davy__ even the back of our main pack are closing in on the 250km mark. For an off-road ultra this is a high standard of riding; pretty sure I would be off the back somewhere myself!

A quick reminder that __Kerry MacPhee__ dropped her tracker and is *not* back near Chopwell. A local has found her tracker and is returning it, which has caused her dot to come alive again!

![4e64f864-2826-4328-8f28-cd1bfcc739c4](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/66DEpseN8KiHktyTOoiHrT/73690f2a95ada26ac524dc0ee4ef2ecc/4e64f864-2826-4328-8f28-cd1bfcc739c4.jpeg)
> Photo taken live & on the ground by [Restrap](https://restrap.com)

Seun Alaba is having more Type II fun as well. It’s worth checking him out on Instagram to see the challenges faced by a diabetic riding ultra distances! This morning, however, he is cursing British road/trail builders!

![IMG 6031](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/kMOtc2PAoAfkCMysyQ28d/c008110b48c321d7bd2d0d554dfdb2a4/IMG_6031.jpeg)
> Seun Alaba on Instagram

No specific news on official scratched riders, I’m afraid but we can definitely see a couple who have diverted sufficiently that I presume they are scratching. I’ll be back in a while, hopefully with a first finisher update!

![84121f25-099d-4e8e-ae97-acaeabd77413](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5Q7d4IC3PGWBaYYjQetqHf/24ed09425894d03eca365d56afaf6994/84121f25-099d-4e8e-ae97-acaeabd77413.jpeg)
> Photo taken live & on the ground by [Restrap](https://restrap.com)

p.s. I've been promised photos from the rest of the pack later today/tomorrow!

Morning Has Broken

A quick note of reassurance - I have confirmed that __Kerry MacPhee__ has lost her tracker but is still fine and riding. This does unfortunately mean that we have absolutely no idea how she's getting on without updates on social media or from the race team!

![WhatsApp Image 2024-08-23 at 20.02.02 (1)](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5HGouRpMVHFG5V8UEtZryv/e79f557c17d965c7410af1ee196b4100/WhatsApp_Image_2024-08-23_at_20.02.02__1_.jpeg)
> Photo taken live & on the ground by [Restrap](https://restrap.com)

Our front trio of __Josh Reid__, __John Hale__ and __Niall Shannon__ are still pushing the pace at the front and showing no signs of any intent to stop. There's a long way to go yet but a decent chance that we will see one of these three get back first. Pushing on through the night could be a risky strategy, however. Will the fatigue of a full 24 hours riding be compatible with the many technical sections Rich has thrown in?

![456610111 1694209684667349 2705153725425387147 n](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/344Haw6ZGaJ9HoyQ5YMR2s/fce968b8d3f20e78c15cb995f83ae6ad/456610111_1694209684667349_2705153725425387147_n.jpg)
> 📸 [Nick Tatt](https://www.instagram.com/nicktatt/) on Instagram

Others, like __Nick Tatt__ have sensibly bedded down for the night. The further back in the field the more likely this is, since the slower a rider is travelling the longer they would need to be going without sleep to complete it in a single ride! Having said this, I was expecting to see a few more dots change state to the greyed-out 'longer stop' indication by now. Instead, we're seeing the majority of the field still riding at gone midnight.

Up towards the front, __Alex Dyson__ is still going really strong. This is great to see as I know he has really been working hard at training all year, having completed an Everesting of Holme Moss in June which he named 'Sundowning', to raise awareness and funds for the Alzheimers Society. You can read more over at his [JustGiving page](https://www.justgiving.com/page/sundowning). However, he possibly needed to pay more attention to bike maintenance recently as he has just had to change his brake pads on the top of a moor in the dark!

![456581109 2439071276295039 6060516574547609522 n](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6TAJhfvg2o5KX8G7KYeR7g/5bcc2acd9a94bdeea47a62be8ed692c9/456581109_2439071276295039_6060516574547609522_n.jpg)
> 📸 [Alex Dyson](https://www.instagram.com/a__dyson/) on Instagram

I will try and get some more photos and insight from on the ground in the morning, but until then you'll have to keep your eyes glued to the tracker and keep on guessing as to whether __Kerry__ is giving the lads at the front a run for their money!

![WhatsApp Image 2024-08-23 at 20.02.00 (1)](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4Ane6JFnAPjNv3SgbpGRQS/f7d35024318c53e815c6969961055be6/WhatsApp_Image_2024-08-23_at_20.02.00__1_.jpeg)
> Photo taken live & on the ground by [Restrap](https://restrap.com)


Only a Lost Tracker!

Twelve hours in and the front groups are absolutely storming! The very front runners, a group of __Josh Reid__, __Niall Shannon__ and __John Hale__ are at about the 245km mark. With the update intervals of trackers being ~5 minutes it is hard to know the accuracy of the "Stopped Time" figures, but all of them are showing very little if any stopped time.

![WhatsApp Image 2024-08-23 at 19.44.41 (1)](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/777qbDSZmMZu5CemvQA9lD/36be0a57856e38403dcd01bbb21bdae5/WhatsApp_Image_2024-08-23_at_19.44.41__1_.jpeg)
> Photo taken live & on the ground by [Restrap](https://restrap.com)

Less than 5km behind them we have __Kerry MacPhee__ and __Jack Wright__, currently in the village of Chopwell and chasing fast. Interestingly, I was chatting to __Alex Dyson__ the other day and he had identified the Co-op in Chopwell as a critical last-resupply before heading out into the night and the wilds; he is in the next small group on the road with __Patrick Dewick__ and __Andrew Hutcheson__, less than 10km from Chopwell so he should comfortably hit his goal of reaching the Co-op before it closes!

![WhatsApp Image 2024-08-23 at 19.44.39](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4HtVJ5RmlpvQ9PUVBsSYO5/c6d636a6866ebb968564c5946e4c5425/WhatsApp_Image_2024-08-23_at_19.44.39.jpeg)
> Photo taken live & on the ground by [Restrap](https://restrap.com)

As my title alludes to, earlier this afternoon our front runners have passed through the Tyne Cycle Tunnel. As I highlighted in the Route Preview, this is a pretty unusual feature of the route and is exactly the sort of unusual thing Rich was looking to show to riders about this area. One thing that he highlighted in a brief Instagram Live this afternoon is that the access lift to the tunnel will only take two bikes. If a group of three riders arrive simultaneously, one of them will have to wait! A interesting new tactical challenge for those where seconds may be critical!

Further back in the pack we now have the majority of riders on the southbound coastal section which by now will be primarily a headwind. Plenty of those riders have now reached the outskirts of Whitley Bay and Tynemouth and will be stopping to refuel amongst the many chip shops and other seafront shops.

![WhatsApp Image 2024-08-23 at 20.01.50](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1OFv82DpgJoX7Y9ulmNuLl/5b6877d777cdb7bc5e50dffb8356faa1/WhatsApp_Image_2024-08-23_at_20.01.50.jpeg)
> Photo taken live & on the ground by [Restrap](https://restrap.com)

I'm pleased to see that our Father and Son duo of __James and Edward Roff__ are doing well - they are towards the back of the mid-pack but far from last! I hope Edward is enjoying his first shot at an ultra event!

Over the next few hours we will start to get a picture of who is try to pull this off in a single ride and who is intending to sleep. With the route heading right out into the Pennines and it being a relatively short event I would imagine we will see more folks opting to bivvy or use a tent. Having spent the past week writing commentary for __The Perfidious Albion__ (a 1600km road ultra) it has been interesting how many of them have been opting for lodgings of one form or another.

![WhatsApp Image 2024-08-23 at 19.44.41](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4pQOuvrZdtYHo8srfOUJFP/5030ef6bf714e9bbd8ebd4923e2b64cc/WhatsApp_Image_2024-08-23_at_19.44.41.jpeg)
> Photo taken live & on the ground by [Restrap](https://restrap.com)

The other interesting question is how quick our first-finisher will be? If the front pack are at around the 250km mark after 12 hours, is there a possibility that someone is going to get this polished off in under 24 hours? It seems unlikely that they will cover the second half marginally faster than the first half but with our front five pushing each other like this it could well be possible!

With the race moving at this pace I may well try and add another post later tonight so check back before you tuck into bed tonight but as they head into the wilds and into the darkness I will probably have a somewhat less reliable supply of photos from on the ground!

![WhatsApp Image 2024-08-23 at 20.02.02](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7lrTf3itZLYXX8Cq5gcaMv/2121d7bb465ceb1960f9136abc281090/WhatsApp_Image_2024-08-23_at_20.02.02.jpeg)
> Photo taken live & on the ground by [Restrap](https://restrap.com)


Under the Tyne and Into the Pennines

We're a few hours in now and the route is already taking it's toll on the riders! We have a few early scratches: __Josh Ibbett__ with a broken mech from his bike being blown over by the wind, __Niall Deans__ with a broken mech from a crash and __Ken Rafferty__ with a broken crank!

![WhatsApp Image 2024-08-23 at 13.23.42](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6NuLUHroCXalOIpquZwJdI/c17e9075e009832cc7b206520a1ecfd8/WhatsApp_Image_2024-08-23_at_13.23.42.jpeg)
> Photo taken live & on the ground by [Restrap](https://restrap.com)

__Seun Alaba__ had a 'mechanical' of a different form as his insulin pump failed last night. This means he has to ride whilst controlling his insulin manually with injections. Many wouldn't have even attempted to start so massive kudos to Seun for pushing on! He has also posted an Instagram story bemoaning a poor bike choice. Rich predicted that gravel bike riders would be wishing for mountain bikes when he was giving me the lowdown on the route!

![456711457 1025460262696060 3350163511713097962 n](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3dp7RkUXeEMR7FuYVPJNI9/581a19ed80a0f1677d702340ba896da7/456711457_1025460262696060_3350163511713097962_n.jpg)
> 📸 [Seun Alaba](https://www.instagram.com/seun.alaba/) on Instagram

On the positive side, the sun is out and the rain has stopped! The wind is still going to be a big influence on the race though as the tail end of the storm blows through.

I'm pleased to see that our Top Five has been a good guide - we have __Kerry MacPhee__, __John Hale__ and __Josh Reid__ right at the front but also joined by __Niall Shannon__ all jockeying for the front.

![WhatsApp Image 2024-08-23 at 13.23.42 (1)](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/55FcdjudUwO1yaUmn3wSnD/843a0573187ba24056d2ae27abaac5d3/WhatsApp_Image_2024-08-23_at_13.23.42__1_.jpeg)
> Photo taken live & on the ground by [Restrap](https://restrap.com)

More to come as the race continues to unfold!

Early Leaders, Early Scratches

Our inaugural The Land Between has started with a hearty welcome from Storm Lilian this morning! The rain looks to be passing quickly but the winds, especially on the first high up section into Scotland, will be buffetting riders and making bike handlig tricky!

![bffcde82-3ad5-4731-8e12-f91826e67bd2](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/47bGdoBJa0Dv1XsDQBc23P/8cf5541b2c4bdcdc0761706b17b31f65/bffcde82-3ad5-4731-8e12-f91826e67bd2.jpeg)
> Photo taken live & on the ground by [Restrap](https://restrap.com)

In case you were watching the start live and wondering why two dots were ahead of the other, it's because Cassie and Suzi started a little early. They've been passed by the front of the pack already!

![1200ccb9-1b97-40e3-8e6b-c09b9664edd0](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/QiLgdouTBKOzefI59JOC8/4b37425a7cffdae08bcb59ecafb2aa52/1200ccb9-1b97-40e3-8e6b-c09b9664edd0.jpeg)
> Photo taken live & on the ground by [Restrap](https://restrap.com)

Throughout the morning and into this afternoon it'll start to become clear who is going for a fast time. The weather favours the fast though - the wind is forecast to turn later today and come from the south. The further down the coast riders can get before the monster storm winds become a headwind, the easier it will be!

A Damp Start

Steve Haskew

The Land Between 2024 Tracking and Commentary: The inaugural edition of this Northern England event will explore the ancient and varied landscapes of Northumberland over isolated fell, along stunning coastlines and through industrial landscapes, both old and new.

The Land Between 2024 Tracking and Commentary

The inaugural edition of this off-road Northern England event will explore the ancient and varied landscapes of Northumberland over isolated fell, along stunning coastlines and through industrial landscapes, both old and new.

The Land Between 2024

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The Land Between 2024

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