This is certainly an interesting challenge and there's no doubt that it really is a challenge in the strongest sense of the word. While I don't know the finer details of the route to be taken I am very familiar with the area and it's hills, particularly the vicious climbs up to Exmoor and over the Brendon and Quantock hills, described by the ToB organisers as "King of the Mountains climbs".
I have no doubt that either bike with a suitable rider is capable of doing the stage, but to attempt it in one day calls for a good deal of courage or masochistic tendencies. I know from experience that a 15 mph average would be difficult to maintain in such challenging terrain, made even harder by having to haul 3 extra batteries up numerous steep inclines. The Pros high averages are helped by achieving very high speeds on the descents, a lot easier with a agile, aerodynamic, ultra-light bike unencumbered by luggage and with an escort ensuring a clear road than it would be for a normal person riding a much heavier machine on busier roads, and a lower average means longer in the saddle, longer than most (includung me) could tolerate.
I wish all of the participants good luck and will be watching the results with interest, they will certainly separate the men from the boys. However I feel that the stronger rider will win, the event being more about the riders endurance than any aspect of the bikes performance.
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Ian
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