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Stage breakdown GORE BIKE WEAR™ TransWales 2010 The TransUK concept of combining timed and untimed stages was born out of the legal restrictions that you can’t have a mountain bike race on bridleways. Rather than abandoning the idea when we first thought about a seven day stage event we came up with the idea of having untied linking stages and timed special stages. Here’s a quick reminder of the difference between the two. Linking Stage: The linking stages are the main part of the daily ride and link the starting venue with the finish location. Most linking stages are between 50-80km long and are not timed in the conventional way. Due to not being races we really can pick the best trails in the area we are going through, showing the riders the best singletracks, views and descents out there. Special Stages: Here is where it counts. The special stages are held on separate courses during the day where riders set off in set intervals and are timed on their efforts. In 2009 we put some of these sections in the middle of the linking stage to improve the flow of the day while still keeping up the competitive element of the event. For 2010 we are going to go one step further by having some of the special stages more focused on ascending or descending. This will give the riders who have certain strengths the chance to shine and to creep up the rankings as well as keeping the competition exciting throughout the week. And to really keep the tension going to the last minute we will have the final stage back in Builth Wells on the final day of the event. New course in 2010: For 2010 John’s brief has been to find a new and refreshed course so that even the hardened TransUK riders will find something new and fresh to get their teeth into as well as to really make use of the vast amount of trails central Wales has to offer. And in typical John Lloyd fashion he is not going to disappoint. For 2010 the Gore Bike Wear™ TransWales course will span from the English border all the way to the Welsh coast and will touch areas never before visited by our event. Stage Breakdown; Here’s the day to day breakdown of what is coming your way including approx. distance, ascending, descending, drink and food stops and the amenities of the various finishing and start locations. Please be aware that all details given are approximate and might change before or even during the event week. Stage 1: Sunday 15th August 2010 Builth Wells - Knighton Distance: 64km Ascent: 1,850m Descent: 1,843m Predicted riding time: 5-6hrs 1st Special Stage (within): Water Breaks Its Neck 1.1km, 100m (Climbing) Course details: The first day sees the route heading east out of Builth Wells, through Hundred House, then turning off onto the first big climb of the week, across Gwaunceste Hill, then descending and crossing the A44, to Water Breaks It’s Neck, and the first special stage (a 1km hill climb). From here the route meanders through Radnor Forest and onto Knighton, on the English border. Here there are shops, pubs, cafes, banks and a leisure centre. Profile (linking stage incl. special stage)  Stage 2: Monday 16th August 2010 Knighton - Llanidloes Distance: 71km Ascent: 2,140m Descent: 2,158m Predicted riding time: 6hrs Course details: Day two starts the journey west across Wales, crossing some fantastic heather moorland, through forestry and farmland, across Radnorshire, the most rural county of Wales. The day ends in Llanidloes, a small town offering shops, pubs, cafes, garage, hotels, banks and launderette. Profile (linking stage)  Stage 3: Tuesday 17th August 2010 Llanidloes - Machynlleth Distance: 85km Ascent: 2,555m Descent: 2,699m Predicted riding time: 7hrs 2nd Special Stage (within): Climax Trail 6km, 290m (Descending) Course details: Day three continues north west through the Hafren Forest and across Plynlimon, the source of the rivers Severn and Wye. The route descends down off Plynlimon crossing the Dyfi Valley, into the Dyfi Forest and to the second special stage (6km descent); the day finishes in Machynlleth, the most northerly destination of the Gore Bike Wear™ TransWales, powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport. Machynlleth has shops including a bike shop, pubs, hotels, takeaways, banks, garage and a leisure centre with swimming pool.  Stage 4: Wednesday18th August 2010 Machynlleth - Cymystwyth Distance: 77km Ascent: 2,636m Descent: 2,397m Predicted riding time: 6-7hrs 3rd Special Stage (within): Nant yr Arian 8.5km, 421m Ascent, 426m Descent: Course details: The route on day four heads southwest past Nant y Moch reservoir and into the forest around Nant yr Arian and the third special stage (8.5km trail centre loop, including both climbing and descending). This is the most westerly point of the event, within sight of the Irish Sea. From here the route continues south through the Arch Forest, passing through a wind farm and descending to the beautiful Tyllwd campsite, the most rural of all the weeks’ locations. Profile (linking stage incl. special stage)  Stage 5: Thursday 19th August 2010 Cymystwyth - Cilycwn Distance: 75km Ascent: 2,362m Descent: 2,406m Predicted riding time: 6-7hrs 4th Special Stage (after): Cwm Rhaiadr - night stage sponsored by:  7km, 260m Ascent, 260m Descent Course details: Day five sees the route heading south on arguably the best days riding of the week, with many miles of singletrack through the Towy and Doethie Valleys, arriving in Glangwenlais campsite, Cilycwm, a small village with one pub. In the evening there will be the Night Special Stage, a 7km loop in Cwmrhaiadr Forest. Profile (linking stage)  Stage 6: Friday 20th August 2010 Cilycwn - Brecon Distance: 77km Ascent: 2,056m Descent: 2,048m Predicted riding time: 6-7hrs Course details: On day six the route travels south east through the Crychan Forest, across the A40 into the Brecon Beacons National Park – an area of outstanding natural beauty. From here the route journeys to Brecon and the sixth campsite of the week. Brecon hosts shops, including a bike shop, pubs, hotels, banks, cafes, takeaways, launderette, cinema, arts centre and leisure centre with swimming pool and ten pin bowling alley. Profile (linking stage)  Stage 7: Saturday 21st August 2010 Brecon - Builth Wells Distance: 55km Ascent: 1,446m Descent: 1,494m Predicted riding time: 4-5hrs 5th Special Stage (after): Builth Wells - Cefnderys Woods 1km, 27m Ascent, 27m Descent (multiple laps) Course details: On the last day of the week, the route turns north, back to Builth Wells, crossing some stunning moorland scenery and finishing along the unspoilt Wye Valley. The fifth and final special stage is just a couple of kilometres from the finish, a fast 1km loop through Cefnderys Woods. Profile (linking stage)  |
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