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| Merida
TransWales ‘06 August 13th – 20th 2006 saw the first ever Merida TransWales mountain bike challenge kick into being; coined as the brain child of respected and long established event organisers Mike Wilkens and John Lloyd – the pairing responsible for Britain’s most high profile and best mountain bike marathon series, the Merida 100s – the Merida TransWales was a truly world class mountain bike event with a difference. Taking its cues from the epic Trans-Alps and Trans-Rockies point-to-point races that cross the Alps and the Canadian Rockies, the Merida TransWales mixed non-competitive marathon linking stages – varying from 33km to 90km in distance – mixed in with a selection of racing special stages on the cream of Wales’ purpose built trail centres for singletrack speed shakes: Coed-y-Brenin, Nant-y-Arian, the Cli-Machx trail, and the new Cwm-y-Rhayader saw riders taking on rally style time trials in pairs and in relay. All in all this uniquely epic challenge demanded that 240 riders split amongst five categories – the Hayes Men’s, Buff Women’s, Saris Veteran’s, High5 Mixed, and Mud Dock Cycleworks Solo categories – complete a total of 543km (338miles) of riding with 15,990m (52,460ft) of climbing in just seven days; making the Merida TransWales – on paper – tougher than the its Canadian namesake, the TransRockies. Riders of all abilities flocked to the start line beneath the Merida TransWales banner – weekend warriors rubbed shoulders with Olympic hopeful Phil Spencer, adventure racers lined up along with hardened endurance specialists of the ilk of Rob Lee – and although at the start “we had 240 riders,” said Mike Wilkens, “by the end we had 240 friends.” The camaraderie present was truly special and a tribute to the pioneering spirit of the event about which Mike said afterwards: “Was three times greater than at the Merida 100 marathons.” For much of the event, the weather served up a heady mix of rain and squall with the odd thunder and lightening storm thrown in for good measure. Yet this failed to dampen the riders’ enthusiasm for the event: following the week long war of attrition waged on singletrack and epic open country trails, many riders went out of their way to offer their thanks to the organisers: “I’ve had messages from riders who have been around the mountain bike block a few times,” revealed Mike, “saying that the Merida TransWales would be on the podium, if not the best event they have ever done.” To even be mentioned in the same breath as such prestigious events as the TransRockies and the TransAlps is a great tribute to the hard work of both Mike and John and all the organising and logistical teams, but also to Merida without whose belief in the concept – both emotionally and financially – the event would never have been realised. The Merida TransWales is a truly world class event – if the opinions of international mountain bike journalists are to be believed – and is arguably the most exciting and inspired event in the British mountain bike calendar. It may be the new kid on the block but the Merida TransWales has no qualms with punching above its weight. For next year, the MTB Trans UK team, the producers of the Merida TransWales, will be uprooting the concept from Wales to Scotland to showcase the 7Stanes. “It’s going to be a treat,” said Mike, “This is by far the most satisfying thing I’ve ever done and we are as excited about doing all this (the Merida TransWales) again and for getting our teeth into next year’s event in Scotland.” A sentiment that many of the Merida TransWales riders are also echoing as they pre-register for the TransScotland even before their SPD shoes have even dried out. It will be both an unforgettable and an unmissable experience. Until then, adieu and happy trails… Read the full story with all the daily reports on the Merida TransWales ’06 site – link. |
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| The Chain Reaction Cycles TransScotland is supported by: |
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