Words and images by Shane Booth
Five days in, with only three to go! What a day – and what an experience the 2018 International GS Trophy is turning out to be.
Following the best night's sleep we've had since leaving basecamp, the Aussie boys were paired up with Team France and led by fellow Australian adventure rider, Miles Davis, who is attending the 2018 GS Trophy as an Event Marshall.
The terrain changed drastically on Day 5. From the desert riding of the previous days to mountains and river crossings, the team were excited to experience more of Mongolia's awesome landscapes.
The day featured three special tests; a sandy river crossing, a trials test at a picturesque mountain-top location and a Metzeler tyre changing challenge.
The Australian Team put everything they had into today, but a few little mistakes proved costly in a very talented field of riders from around the world. In an event where consistency is of paramount importance, we are learning quickly that the odd bad result can drastically hurt a team's position in the overall standings.
Another thing that mustn't be underestimated is the long days. We are usually up by 5am, to be on the bikes with engines running by 7.30am.
In the evenings, we have been arriving back at camp at around 5pm. The night involves socialising with our new international friends over dinner, listening to the rider briefing and results, and sometimes even participating in an extra challenge. This all usually wraps up around 10pm. At this point everyone dives into their tent to grab every minute of rest possible before doing it all again the next day.
Tomorrow, another 280km stage awaits. Filled with even more river crossings and challenging terrain, I'm sure the day will bring further incredible experiences.