Snow sports News  

Presenter Bell faces new challenge

He may be 42 years-old but Scotland's Graham Bell, former World Cup downhill skier turned Ski Sunday presenter still clearly enjoys a challenge.
 
For on Sunday, the former British no.1 skier joined 1704 other hardy competitors to tackle the 81-mile Etape Caledonia cycle race in highland Perthshire.
 
Staged on closed public roads, it's a road race that stretches from Pitlochry to the westernmost point of remote Loch Rannoch and includes a punishing climb under the shadow of Schiehallion, one of Scotland's most striking Munro's.
 
Indeed, by the time the tired riders had peddled their way back to Pitlochry, aching limbs were testament to the fact they'd just completed over 1900 metres of ascent!
 
Bell, whose World Cup best included a 10th place in downhill at Lenkerbad in 1988 and a 23rd place at the 1998 Nagano Olympics, finished a credible 112th place (3hrs 55.09mins). 
 
The winner was Veli-Matti Raikkonen of Granite City RT whom blasted round the course in 3hrs 38.53.