Aussie English beats Smith, Fellows

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The 24 Hours of Adrenalin World Solo 24 Hour Mountain Bike Championships were held in Canada in Canmore, Alberta in 2009. Some 117 solo riders and 247 teams contested the event, with riders from eight countries amongst the 1700 riders taking part. Canmore also hosted the championships in 2008 and riders were hoping the wet weather of 2008 would not repeat.  Jason English and Rebecca Rusch won the solo elite categories.

The race got underway at 11:45 on Saturday and from the start a group of four elite men took off at cross country pace for the first six hours. New Zealand's Tony Hogg was the early leader but Australia's Jason English and Andy Fellows, plus American Cary Smith were always close, with only two minutes separating them after 10 hours.

As the night wore on Hogg suffered from dehydration and collapsed on the course, forcing his withdrawal from the race. English took over the lead, gradually extending it through the early hours of Sunday morning until he was able to cross the finish line as the 24 Hours of Adrenalin World Solo Champion on Sunday with a comfortable margin.

In the elite women's solo race, American Rebecca Rusch (Specialized Factory Racing) rode relatively unchallenged throughout the race on the way to a third world title, although behind her the placings changed continuously and many of the riders lost time through crashes. Some light rain dampened the course but was not a serious challenge compared to 2008. Australian 24-hour national champion Jessica Douglas hit the wall on Sunday morning and fell back through the placings to finish in fourth place, as Canada’s Carena Dean rode clear into third. American Jari Kirkland took second, nearly a full lap (16km) behind Rusch.

Rusch's boyfriend, Greg Martin, won the singlespeed solo category.