Robin Horsfield finished first in the 40km distance of the “Steaming Nostril” held just outside St Jacobs, Ontario, on Sunday.

The race included a mix of majority gravel road, with some paved roads, as well as sections of off-road riding, while the conditions were deplorable with minus temperatures and strong winds and rain throughout.

Horsfield, the national mountain bike champion, had to be given medical attention at the finish area for early stages of hypothermia. After being initially scheduled to race the longer 65km distance, his coach wisely changed the race distance selection 30 minutes before the race.

“Once finished and warmed up, I got dry clothes and went back to the lunch building to eat. It was quickly becoming an ER/triage-type situation as later riders from the 40km arrived as well as some early 65km finishers,” said Horsfield on the effects of the harsh race conditions.

“It was apparent to us that paramedical services would soon be needed and we stayed to help until we saw more help arriving.”

In the race itself, Horsfield and another rider broke away from the group less than 1km into the race and rode together until the off-road section with 5km remaining. At that point, Horsfield took the reins and headed in for the win.

“After making the break it was just a matter of physical survival the rest of the way in given the horrendous conditions,” he added.