
__And we have a wrap. Tonight, the curtain came down on the inaugural Two Volcano Sprint. __

Out of the 16 starters, barely a third of the field managed to cover the 1,100km course from Mt. Vesuvio to Mt. Etna in time for tonight’s finishing party. This route, so much for being ‘short’ by ultra-distance standards, has proved to be incredibly attritional. Come the finish line, the winner Ulrich Bartholmoes was describing 2VS as harder than both the Transiberica and the Transpyrenees.

Arriving in the afternoon to take 6th position was Rob Gardiner. The weather in Sicily today has been grim, wet and cold but he at least was lucky enough to climb and descend Mt. Etna in a kind of grey, semi-daylight. 

![2019-11-11 04.38.06 1](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/54VVuohOa2cn4fPzInZeev/a5450ff0909724b7e5bd2e558ceef282/2019-11-11_04.38.06_1.jpg)

The pairs team of Michele Petrone and Sergio Punzi were not so lucky. By the time they had scaled Mt. Etna late in the afternoon, night was falling fast. Their final run in to Nicolosi was made in the freezing dark and wet - surely the most harsh and challenging descent of Etna made by any of the riders in this year’s race. 

![2019-11-11 04.38.11 1](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2MexmpdGwvQBkYTd6S9oCD/9c62a81a45270e0d5fe5502c91030921/2019-11-11_04.38.11_1.jpg)

Tonight might well be the finisher’s party, but we should spare a thought also for those rider’s who didn’t quite make it to Nicolosi in time this year. Right this minute, Colin Addison in holed up in a small town on Sicily’s northern shore. Tomorrow, he’ll set off to complete the course. Many other riders have not made it as far as that - but all of them have been part of the story of this race. 

The final wrap

__At 10:40 pm last night, Robbie Britton rolled into the finish to claim 4th place in the inaugural Two Volcano Sprint. __

His duel with Barry Scott had been a long one - for nearly 700km, the two riders had been practically neck and neck but in the end Britton had just enough left in the tank to see it home. 

![2019-11-11 12.20.43 2](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2g4pzBcVk8disEub87AB4E/7be8b0d771dbff8441d3ae30948f4cfe/2019-11-11_12.20.43_2.jpg)

Barely an hour and a half later, around midnight, Barry Scott was also rolling into the finish in Nicolosi. Having made the descent of Mt. Etna in sub-zero temperatures, Scott arrived truly frozen stiff - as he climbed off his bike, he pulled from his bib shorts the wads of rolled-up shopping bags he had stuffed there to try and shield himself from the icy wind.  

![2019-11-11 12.20.35 1](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/11VcfVaysGtj295OdwFyL2/104d8b708d50e63cd1dc6455004dc2a9/2019-11-11_12.20.35_1.jpg)

Further back down the road, the rest of the field is now in a race against time to reach the Nicolosi before the finisher’s party and thus earn the finisher’s classification. Colin Addison, Pamela Capparulo and Mary Mackay are all - just barely - within striking distance of making the race finish in time but they will all have to ride hard without stops if they are to make it. 

![WhatsApp Image 2019-11-11 at 05.36.52](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2W5aKe0ziWw9uOqlT5RyZu/d4bd15d7b748d40acf5709233c1478de/WhatsApp_Image_2019-11-11_at_05.36.52.jpeg)

The final day

__After four days, 1,000km of road and over 20,000 metres of climbing, Robbie Britton and Barry Scott can still be barely separated. __

Just 15km separates the two riders in the final run-in to the finish, with the two riders even finding themselves aboard the same ferry on the way to Messina. 

Britton is currently holding onto a slender lead, having pulled away from Scott on the slopes leading upwards to Mt. Etna. At about 8:30 pm, local time, Britton had crested the peak and begun the long descent into Nicolosi (not, however, before putting on every piece of clothing he was carrying with him). 

Barring any misfortune, Britton looks to have secured 4th place in this year’s race – but if this race has taught him anything, it’s that Scott will be chasing him hard all the way to the finish. 

Behind them, the race’s leading pair of Michele Petrone and Sergio Punzi have also made the crossing into Sicily. With still 100km of hard climbing left for them tackle before the finish, the two have a long road ahead of them still - but they have, at least, the promise of the finisher’s party tomorrow night to buoy their spirits. 

The battle for 4th

*__“Holy. Baby. Jesus.”__*

If you had to summarise the final 200km of the Two Volcano Sprint in just three words, then you could do a lot worse than Andrew Phillips’ exhausted finish-line summary. 

Race Director Juliana Buhring had speculated before the race that many riders could fall into the trap of thinking that, once they’d made the ferry crossing over to Messina, their race was pretty much over. She knew from personal experience, however, that it’s crucial to keep something in the tank for that final 200km push. 

![2019-11-10 12.03.18 3](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4UACd3IqhNC29VQEdKAoJt/d03e1c6071da8bcf3e7a189a3693ab35/2019-11-10_12.03.18_3.jpg)

Last night – at 11:20 pm local time – Andrew Phillips became the second rider to make it home, having made the nerve-jangling final descent of Mt. Etna in the pitch black and sub-zero temperatures. When he finally made it down, he was frozen stiff.  

This morning, Adrien Liechti arrived to complete this year's podium. Somewhat unbelievably, both Andrew and Adrien had climbed Mt. Etna with only two gears to choose from after snapping gear cables - considering the distances these two riders had travelled, this misfortune must have felt like a sadistic final twist.

![2019-11-10 11.59.50 1](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3MKR0rOTMK93sX2FacE889/8e1999fc5d75a7402b2195b13b2d1475/2019-11-10_11.59.50_1.jpg)

At the current moment, Robbie Britton and Barry Scott are duelling out a fascinating contest for 4th position. These two riders have been neck and neck for nearly the entire race, exchanging positions constantly over the last 700km. Tonight, their race will come all the way down to the wire – and we find out who has something left to give. 

While you were sleeping...

__The race has its first rider home, and the Two Volcano Sprint has its first ever winner. __

Arriving at the finish line in Nicolosi in a time of 59 hours and 58 minutes, Ulrich Bartholmoes claimed victory despite being forced to climb Mt. Etna with only one functioning leg. 

In all, Ulrich rode 1100km and climbed 24,000 metres of ascent – and he covered the course well under three days. Considering the time and energy-draining mechanical problems that Ulrich faced early on his race, this was a truly impressive ride from a worthy winner of the inaugural Two Volcano Sprint. 

![2019-11-09 05.46.15 1](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/614Dv1PGQDb8QWeNmeK7Qg/1c7ccafbba0ff93f6e62405d2862a5b2/2019-11-09_05.46.15_1.jpg)

Waiting for Ulrich at the finish was his girlfriend, who was able to give him the news that he’d arrived just two minutes under his stated target time of 60 hours. 

Also waiting at the finish was the Mayor of Nicolosi. Together with the rest of the 2VS crew, Ulrich hobbled from his bike and into the nearest bar for a well-deserved beer – as well as a few arancini the size of small mountains. 

![2019-11-09 06.27.14 1 (1)](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/9vq81i29QL6WnNokYaiKf/14a3a8f0585465650c07506f8fee558c/2019-11-09_06.27.14_1__1_.jpg)

We know by now that the final stretch of this race is a brutal prospect - and yet tonight, things became even more challenging for 3rd-placed Adrien Liechti when the gear cable for his rear deraileur snapped inside his shifter.  

![WhatsApp Image 2019-11-09 at 18.04.30](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/19X99Mei9AD2ZqCFzYPMMn/bbdfd83ec79f6a0dc8dd2e11dc1cda89/WhatsApp_Image_2019-11-09_at_18.04.30.jpeg)

Now, he's left to tackle the remainder of the race on what is effectively a two-speed bike – hardly an ideal racing setup considering the savage gradients he is still yet to face. 

Ahead of him, Andrew Phillips is now nearing the summit of Mt. Etna. Soon enough, he will begin the freezing descent down the mountain towards the town of Nicolosi. In the cold and the dark, that final descent will be a real test of these sleep-deprived rider's concentration. 



The first rider home

__At the time of writing, Ulrich Bartholmoes is wrestling his bike up the ice-cold slopes of Mt. Etna, edging himself metre by agonising metre towards victory in the first-ever Two Volcano Sprint. __

12 hours ago, Ulrich’s hold over this race seemed unshakeable – he had a healthy lead over his closest chasers and seemed ominously in control of his own efforts - but the last few hours have seen cracks beginning to appear in the German’s challenge. 

The recurrence of an old knee injury picked up racing at the Transiberica is playing havoc with Ulrich's ride – forcing him to alternate between climbing exclusively out of the saddle, or else pedalling with only one leg. 

![2019-11-09 04.37.51 1](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/611XDMHwxr09j1g9a7Olhh/0b435214db6b8772019949360e5ea6ce/2019-11-09_04.37.51_1.jpg)

All this has in turn brought on a severe case of Shermer’s neck. Ulrich may only be 30km or so from the finish, but the gradients he is currently facing are brutal… half of the races total elevation is packed into the last third of the course, and that challenge is beginning to take its toll. 

He may still carry a buffer over his closest chaser, Adrian Phillips, but Ulrich is now in different race altogether - a race to the finish before his body gives out.  

Behind him, Andrew Phillips is now attempting to close the gap and Adrien Liechti has now become the third rider to make the ferry crossing to Sicily. Barring injury or mechanical problems, all three of the leading riders are set to finish the 1100km in a time less than three days – a truly remarkable feat.

![2019-11-09 10.27.44 1](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7msoAzgqiaETPWk4t4Sqld/dff0cdbef907ffae200fe3c4b9b0a581/2019-11-09_10.27.44_1.jpg)

Meanwhile, Pamela Cepparulo’s Garmin troubles show no sign of abating – she is now navigating as best she can using her mobile phone for guidance yet remains in indomitable spirits. 

The Endgame

__The second night of the inaugural Two Volcano Sprint saw riders face many different challenges and respond with many different approaches. __

When morning broke, however, one constant remained the same – Ulrich Bartholmoes had continued his relentless push south at the front of the race, and is now within striking distance of the finish at the foot of Mt. Etna. 

After being forced to reroute around a road blocked by a landslide early last night, Ulrich chose to stop for an early sleep of just a few hours before continuing on. In a bid to close the distance between them, second-placed Andrew Phillips rode through the night without rest and at one point had cut the gap to around 50km. That effort took its toll, however, and once Ulrich  started riding again he begun to stretch out his lead once more. 

![2019-11-09 08.30.06 2](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1rCEWNQsZImgjYPYnT41Zx/cd5d06cb9ba41fa4ef77758deb0413a0/2019-11-09_08.30.06_2.jpg)

By 4am, Ulrich was on the ferry crossing between the Italian mainland and the port of Messina on the island of Sicily. At the time of writing, he is riding south through the foothills surrounding Mt. Etna, around 120km from the finish. While Andrew Philips is not far behind, it would take a truly remarkable effort to overturn the deficit now. 

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4oWdicIxVp/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4oWdicIxVp/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div></a> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4oWdicIxVp/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">km 888: I‘m on a Boat. Kickin off the last part of @twovolcanosprint</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ubartholmoes/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Ulrich Bartholmoes</a> (@ubartholmoes) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2019-11-09T04:00:13+00:00">Nov 8, 2019 at 8:00pm PST</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

At the other end of the race, Rob Gardiner has been struggling with stomach problems and nausea. Early this morning, he chose to hunker down in Costenza to try and recover enough that he could continue later in the day. Meanwhile, the race to be first woman remains incredibly tight - Mary Mackay holding a slim 20km lead over Pamela Cepparulo just behind her. 

While You Were Sleeping

![2019-11-08 10.15.52 1](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/74uybXkHDOQ9x9LTyxZOms/ec89a9c48cdd47500b910184d8fe8f0e/2019-11-08_10.15.52_1.jpg)
As darkness falls at the end of day 2, Ulrich Bartholmoes continues his unrelenting ride towards Sicily, barely having stopped during the last 36 hours. He’s now only 370km from the finish. Once again, the amount of sleep tonight (or lack of) will be a deciding factor in his grip on the race lead. Could Ulrich be on course for yet another victory this season?
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4mT7lEoffb/
Both Andrew Phillips and Adrien Liechti are in hot pursuit, having been jostling for second place since the start of the race. They’ve been neck & neck, and are now only separated by 15km – just a stone’s throw in a 1,100km race. Both have taken only short breaks over the last couple of days, so tonight’s resting patterns may significantly affect the balance by sunrise tomorrow. 

Further down the field, the women – Mary Mackay and Pamela Cepparulo – have also been closely matched. They both stopped for a similar amount of time last night, but have maintained a similar pace today. They are also separated by only 15km, making them another pair to keep an eye on as the race develops. 
![2019 1109 00490200](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/23sOo0mFOvQz582R9lQYWx/3be743d05be77f95d819c78ed1d80cf9/2019_1109_00490200.jpg)
It’s been a tough day of climbing for the riders, particularly those who chose to skip the first night’s sleep entirely. Adrian O’Sullivan paused early this evening to find a hotel at the hallway mark, after struggling this afternoon. Others will take a longer rest this evening, but some will be able to push on with only a short rest again tonight. It’s shaping up to be an exciting weekend as we enter the second half of the race!


Two Volcano Sprint - End of Day 2

__By the time morning broke on the second day of Two Volcano Sprint, the elastic had well and truly snapped - the race field was now stretched across several hundred kilometres, from the leaders in the Appennine mountains to the back-markers on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. __

Most of the leading 10 riders all pushed through the night without sleep, and are now heading into their second day of continuous riding. In the mid-pack, a little further back, some riders had chosen to sleep on the roadside for a few hours but now found themselves 200km or more from the race lead. 

![2019-11-08 11.15.02 1](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/64PBlom8UOIS9pZI7VHCET/e93737d6f70ce886245d99fbfbd9d4cd/2019-11-08_11.15.02_1.jpg)

By 8am local time, race leader Ulrich Bartholmoes had – incredibly – already rode 550km and reached the midpoint of the Two Volcano Sprint. Ulrich has taken an incredibly aggressive approach to this race, pushing out from the front all the way through the night until he stretched his lead to a full 100km over the chasing pack. 

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4mHElLoMo5/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4mHElLoMo5/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; 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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div></a> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4mHElLoMo5/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">km 550: reached the halfway-point of @twovolcanosprint ... Time in Race: 26h 30min. Time in Motion: 23h 30min. Elevation: 9.200m JAWUI!</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ubartholmoes/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Ulrich Bartholmoes</a> (@ubartholmoes) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2019-11-08T07:07:15+00:00">Nov 7, 2019 at 11:07pm PST</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

At the forefront of that chasing pack are Andrew Phillips and Adrien Liechti, riders who have been neck and neck for second-place all the way through the night. 

By mid-morning, the race had its first scratches. Bryan Averre pulled from the race after experiencing problems with his Garmin computer and falling back to the tail end of the race. 

Meanwhile, the pairs team of Stuart McCormick and Andy Tibbet were forced to pull out due to personal reasons relayed from back home in the UK. Seeing these two riders have their race cut short was a great shame – the two of them had shown a great deal of perseverance in getting themselves back out onto the road after mechanical problems early on.



Two Volcano Sprint - Day 2 

__By the close of Day 1 of the inaugural Two Volcano Sprint, the field had been well and truly broken up, with riders dotted along the road from Acciaroli all the way to Campotonese, 150km south.__

After a challenging beginning to his race involving three punctures and visits to two different bike shops, Ulrich Bartholmoes has now fought his way into the race lead. 

![2019-11-07 11.31.08 1](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2drrwfb14FMiFThjgS89Lq/1115a7577b9e1b3a6c35850c5eacf931/2019-11-07_11.31.08_1.jpg)

Not far behind him is Andrew Phillips, who held the lead earlier that day with Adrien Liechti a little way down the road. At the time of writing, these three riders have cut inland away from the coast and are now making their way east into Italy’s mountainous centre. 2VS may be a relatively short race by the standards of ultra-endurance cycling, but Italy’s rugged terrain will mean this route will test any of these riders. 

As night falls, the rider of the inaugural Two Volcano Sprint have decisions to make – do they sleep, or push on through until dawn? In the morning, it’s more than likely that the shape of the race will have changed. 

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