Tyre problems are the ruin of Matt’s attempt at defence

The winner in 2013, Clinton was riding with plate 0001 as the event kicked off with the best conditions it’s ever had.

Starting at the northern tip of the island, the riders had a tailwind at their backs for the 44-mile mountain bike event to Cregneash at the southern tip.

Only five riders survived Clinton’s pace up this climb before hitting the open moor.

Stopping to reduce his tyre pressure, Clinton lost contact with the group for a short period.

Tyre problems would prove his undoing as he hit a large rock and was forced to stop twice to try to inflate his tyre.

Hopes of defending his title were all but lost by this stage.

Riding up the infamous “Pipeline”, Clinton caught one of the leaders up but as he descended again, the low tyre pressure forced him to stop once again.

The problems meant he finished seventh overall.

It was a position that still gained him first senior (the 24-29 category) but not the title defence he was after.

Also riding for Mike Vaughan Cycles, Rob Foote wiped almost 40 minutes off his time from 2013 despite some mechanical issues on the technical terrain.

Brian Tew completed his 12th running of the event, also in his fastest-ever time.