MBWales - Trans Wales: The final furlongs

Trans Wales: The final furlongs

The final days of racing see more drama and close calls as exhausted riders fight for finishing positions in the epic MTBstage race.

Special Stage Four

Team relay time-trial, Nant-y-Arian

Total distance: 14km

Climbing: 600m

Followed by:Linking Stage Six

Nant-y-Arian to Strate Florida

Total distance: 72km

Climbing: 2100m

The penultimate day of the Merida Bikes TransWales saw the sun creep out from its wet slumber in time to turn the heat up for the final special stage. This would be the decider to seal the overall results and with the racing so close in many categories there was little margin for error or complacency. With the weather finally coming good everything was set for riders to begin the home straight on a high.

The morning’s special stage took place on a slightly abridged version of the Summit Trail at Nant-y-Arian: with 14km and 600m of climbing including the infamous Leg Burner climb and fast, swooping singletrack section it would be a test of fitness as well as high speed bike handling.
And with the racing so close going into it, there had to be no holding back.

In the USE Men’s Solo category, the fight for the overall title intensified with three serious claims to it.

Last year’s TransScotland Solo winner Andy Barlow (Whyte Bikes) – a very technical and powerful rider – had been struggling to show the form that led him to last year’s highly popular win. Admitting during yesterday’s linking stage that he was struggling to get in the right mental place for it, he sadly slumped into 5th in the special stage in a time of 39:38. With Andy’s challenge for the overall seemingly over, three names emerged head and shoulders above the rest fighting tooth and nail for the top spot.

Previously, both Ryan Bevis (RAM Bikes) and Frans Claes (Connection Granville), the current overall leader prior to this morning’s special stage, had both taken special stage wins, but today they had to bow down before the advance of Ewan Thorburn (Fat Tread Bikes). Ewan stormed the special stage to claim a convincing win in a time of 38:04, 17 seconds clear of Frans in second, with Bevis third in 38:51. Ewan has been bubbling under the radar for the duration of the event, but with six days of hard riding and racing in riders’ legs, his endurance, power and skill brought him deservedly to the fore. With the final general classification being announced at journey’s end tomorrow in Builth Wells, it really is going down to the wire between these three.

In the High5 Mixed category, the top two teams – Meggie Bichard and Ed Kerly (Team Chance), and David Evans and Lily Mathews (Team 8) – had been swapping the top spot in the special stages all week. And today was no exception: after losing out in yesterday’s special stage, Meggie Bichard and Ed Kerly (Team Chance) took their chance and went all out for the win. Their hard work paid dividends and they swept David Evans and Lily Mathews’ challenge aside by just under a minute.

In the USE Women’s Solo category Fi Spotswood cemented her overall lead by producing an emphatic win in a time of 48:48, just under 10 minutes faster than her closest rival Amy Baron-Hall (trio25.blogspot.com). Similarly, the closely fought singlespeed category became a foregone conclusion as Trek 69er Collective’s Matt Carr faded at the last with tired, tired legs. Pushing a 32:15 gear all week may have just been too much on the climbs and just blunted the sharpness of the usually fiery singlespeeder. Henry Richard Lansdown (Bike Shed Wales) swept to the win in a time of 43:17 with Carr crossing the line back in 45:42.

Elsewhere, Steve Heading screwed the final nail in the coffin for his competitor’s chances for the overall title in the USE Veteran Men’s Solo category as he again took another special stage win. This time his winning margin over second placed rider of a minute and forty seconds with a time of 41:31. This makes Steve untouchable in the overall and a deserved and convincing winner of the Merida Bikes TransWales 2008.

But the event wasn’t all about the racing: due its unique format of non-competitive linking stages together with rally style special stages, it also attracts riders looking for a challenge and truly memorable weeks mountain biking. One such pair was What Mountain Bike magazine’s Merida Bikes TransWales competition winners: Gareth Taylor and Lewis Collins.

Hailing from Brighton in England’s south east, the pair are lifelong bike riders of any persuasion – both dirt, tarmac and BMX. Taking a chance they entered the comp to win the ride of the Merida Bikes TransWales but also walked away with enough schwag to keep them in bike kit, clothing and energy drinks for years courtesy of the events sponsors – Meridsa Bikes, Gore Bike Wear, High5 energy food and drinks, USE and Exposure Lights, Ergon, Niner, and Buff. In total, the prize was worth thousands of pounds.

"It was sunny. It was warm. And there were some great natural descents – very steep and rocky, very technical with loose sections and extremely fast," said Gareth on finishing the day’s stage. "I’m loving it," he continued, "I’ve had a fantastic time and am absolutely loving it. I had a sense of humour failure on the first two days but I’ve recovered now: I’ve met some really nice people and it’s been really inspiring." All the while Lewis is nodding his head in agreement as Gareth is talking: "It’s easy to have one good bit of riding that you’re good at," Lewis explains, "whether that’s climbing, descending or fitness – but here you have to be good at everything all the time and be super fit and mentally hardy as well."

Gareth and Lewis’ exploits have been recorded in glorious technicolour and will be featured in a forthcoming issue of What Mountain Bike. For more on the magazine – including what’s in the current and next issues – log onto http://www.bikeradar.com/ or pick up a copy at your local store.

Tomorrow sees the longest stage of the event that takes the riders the final furlong from Strata Florida to Builth Wells – some 84km and 2500m of climbing (but with 2600m of descending). There the final winners will be announced, the riders will finally kick back and relax over a beverage at the Red Bull finishing party, share stories of mishaps and near misses, of long but rewarding days in the saddle, and finally bring a close to the 2008 Merida Bikes TransWales.

"I’m really excited about tomorrow," said Gareth, "I know it’s going to be a long day but I know I can do it so I’m really looking forward to getting out there. After everything it’s going to be great to chill out with all the people we’ve ridden with, have a few drinks although I’m also really sad it’s the last day. I’m definitely going to be coming back again."

Special Stage Four Results

USE Women’s Solo Category

1 – Fi Spotswood (Iron Horse Extreme): 48:482

– Amy Baron-Hall (trio25.blogspot.com): 57:363

– Katrina Brown (Deeside Total Endurance): 50:11

USE Men’s Solo Category

1 – Ewan Thorburn (Fat Tread Bikes): 38:042

– Frans Claes (Connection Granville): 38:213
– Ryan Bevis (RAM Bikes): 38:51USE

Veteran Women’s Solo Category

1 – Ros Fish (Dorset Rough Riders): 01:02:072

– Anne Dickins (Cloud 9 Trails): 01:03:003
– Mary-Rose Cross: 01:05:07USE

Veteran Men’s Solo Category

1 – Steve Heading (Whyte Bikes): 41:312
– Kerry Graham (BAD CC): 43:103
– Richard Wilson: 43:23High5

Mixed Category

1 – Meggie Bichard & Ed Kerly (Team Chance): 42:062
– David Evans & Lily Mathews (Team 8): 43:043
– Paul Hoogenboom & Alieke Griffeon (Peptiplus-Bikezone): 49:27

Ergon Veteran Men’s Category

1 – Carl Hutchings & Stuart Lockear (London Phoenix Vets): 46:372
– Simon Jepheart &~ Gary Cousins (phasenineclothing.co.uk): 49:493
– David Wood & Tom Jones (Team Dysynni): 51:35

Buff Female Category

1 – Irene Lachner & Alice Lund: 57:02

Gore Bike Wear Male Category

1 – Ifan Richards & Chris Purt (Revolution Bikes RT): 41:392
– Ben Jones & Andy Jones (Clee Cycles / KCNC): 42:573
– James Cooper & Rick Fielder (Army Cycling Union): 45:48

Niner Singlespeed Category

1 –Henry Richard Lansdown (Bike Shed Wales): 43:172
– Matt Carr (69er Collective): 45:42

It’s over: after seven days and 550km of riding with 15,500m of climbing the Merida Bikes TransWales 2008 Champions have at last been crowned, reports What Mountain Bike magazine’s Editor, Matt Skinner, in the final of his daily reports…

Linking Stage Seven

Strata Florida to Builth Wells

Total distance: 84km

Climbing: 2500m

It’s been a long, exhausting but exhilarating week of riding in some of the toughest conditions that the Trans UK events have ever seen. Today at last, after four flat out competitive special stages, seven long linking stages, the Merida Bikes TransWales 2008 rolled across the finish line to bring the event full circle into Builth Wells. In total, the massed field of international riders had completed 550km (344miles) of riding with 15,500m (50,840feet) of climbing off-road around the heart of Wales in just seven days. For some, the spoils of victory. For others, the consolation of a cold beer. But for all, great memories and new friendships formed to last a lifetime.

The final linking stage took riders from beautiful Strata Florida with its ancient abbey back home to Builth Wells, some 84km and 2500m of climbing away. It may be the last day of the event and the ‘glory ride’ home, but it was still the longest linking stage of the entire event.

Taking the riders through Tyw Forest the route revisited sections of trail much loved by 2006 TransWales riders: the seven river crossings section where riders can carve criss-crossing lines over and through various river crossing points on the same section of trail. Just put the hammer down, carve, and enjoy. Also back on the menu was the fine and technical singletrack descent along the side of the Afon Doethie and down to the Llyn Brianne reservoir, snaking along the contours of the scenic valley and hammering full bore downwards over some of the finest flow riding on the entire Merida Bikes TransWales.

The route then climbed back into the trees towards the home of some of most colourful events anywhere in Britain, including the Real Ale Wobble and the World Bog Snorkelling Championships, Llanwrtyd Wells. The trail then turned north west following the river Irfon and into Irfon Forest, snaking upwards on fire road to eventually exit onto the black top. From that point on, the riders buzzed along the Tarmac back into Builth. But they still had to work hard as there were still steep climbs and descents to be conquered before they could finally slay and lay to rest the Merida Bikes TransWales challenge.

With the weather staying good all day, the finishing arena turned into an en-masse chill out zone. Riders rode into rapturous applause from their friends and loved ones turning out to welcome them back, from their new riding buddies, and from all the crew who had helped make their ride so memorable. Each rider claimed their finisher’s jersey and made straight for some very well earned cold beer courtesy of BikeRadar.com and hard earned rest. Finally.

In the end of the 2008 Merida Bikes TransWales saw the closest racing in the event’s history: in many categories, racers had been swapping the lead in the general classification all week with no one clear superpower dominating. With the final special stage yesterday again seeing fresh winners in some categories, it made for a suitably climactic finish to the event and all was finally revealed today in Builth Wells (see below).

"This was certainly the toughest Trans event I’ve done ever, ever, ever," said Trek 69er Collective singelspeed rider Matt Carr during the BikeRadar.com finishing party. The toughness of the event wasn’t missed on the organisers, Mike Wilkens and John Lloyd, either. "I think the conditions made this an even bigger challenge than it would be anyway," said Mike. "It was certainly the toughest Trans event we’ve ever done but the fact that the riders are still here after a week of going through some big ups and downs really impressed me like no tomorrow. It was a challenging week but it continued the spirit of the event – of people helping each other out and mucking in together."

The 2008 Merida Bikes TransWales Champions*:

USE Women’s Solo Category

1 – Fi Spotswood (Iron Horse Extreme): 45:56:55

USE Men’s Solo Category

1 – Frans Claes (Connection Granville): 45:26:25

USE Veteran Women’s Solo Category

1 – Mary-Rose Cross: 45:34:47

USE Veteran Men’s Solo Category

1 – Steve Heading (Whyte Bikes): 45:34:58

High5 Mixed Category

1 – David Evans & Lily Mathews (Team 8): 45:43:16

Ergon Veteran Men’s Category