Steven Nelmes (D 908-UK), Mike Paul ( D918-UK), Paul Simmons ( D939-UK).
On the bivouac, before the second stage, I meet three strong and proud Welsh lads, happy faced and ready to go.
They are Newport firemen.
What took them to the Sultan MDS ? Some firemen friends took place two years ago: stories of blisters and other war trophies didn’t impress them all that much, but adventure, challenge and  group experience tempted them.
They trained under the guidance of those same friends, who gave them precious advice. They underwent about 18 months of reasonably paced training and then went into a more intensive phase in the last three or four months, without over-doing it so as to avoid injuries: “Slow and steady”. To get used to the heat, no problem: they put training bike in the drying room of the fire-station!
In any case, their job is one that forces them to keep in shape.
The first stage was “tough”, but they want more: “You only know yourself once you’ve pushed yourself to the limit”. Mike dreams of doing the Sultan MDS again with his son, when he reaches the age of 18; he will then be 50. For all, the race is an opportunity to make new friends.
Their wish? To get to the finish line, together and whole!