TransScotland History: The Full Story of the 2007 Race, from Build-Up to Finish
The history of the TransScotland is unusually well documented for a race that ran only once: its organisers published news bulletins from December 2006 onwards, then daily reports through race week itself. This page follows that record from first announcement to final party.
From Wales to Scotland
The story begins with the Merida TransWales of 13–20 August 2006 — the first Trans-format stage race in the UK, organised by Mike Wilkens and John Lloyd of Mountain Bike Events Ltd, the pair behind the Merida 100 marathon series. Its success convinced the team to move the concept north for 2007 to showcase the 7stanes trails, with riders reportedly pre-registering for Scotland before their shoes had dried from Wales. A pre-entry list eventually gathered around 700 interested riders for a field capped at 300.
The Scottish event was announced in December 2006 as the Chain Reaction Cycles TransScotland ‘07, powered by Merida Bikes: a seven-day stage challenge from 25 May to 2 June 2007, starting and finishing in Selkirk. The entry form followed on 19 December.
Sponsors and Partners
Chain Reaction Cycles took the title sponsorship. “We have been monitoring the UK events scene for a number of years now and when the TransUK guys got in touch with us it wasn’t really a difficult decision to make,” said the company’s Michael Cowan, placing the event “up there with the Trans Rockies and the Trans Alp”. Merida Bikes returned as bike sponsor, providing technical backup, the event holdalls and the finishing jerseys.
Forestry Commission Scotland and the 7stanes team supported the route. “We’re delighted that the reputation of the 7stanes has attracted yet another fantastic event to the South of Scotland,” said Julie Cartner of the 7stanes team — who would later win the Buff female category herself. Category sponsorship came from BeOne, Buff, High5, Gore and Scottish Tourism, with further support from Mercedes-Benz, NiteRider lights, Schwalbe, What Mountain Bike, BikeMagic.com and Insect Solutions, whose midge repellent went into every team’s goody bag.
The Road to the Start Line
The bulletins trace a steady build-up. By February 2007 the course had been settled after “months of negotiating”, entries were nearing capacity, and the field had turned international, with riders from Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the USA, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland and Belgium. Airport shuttles from Edinburgh were arranged for overseas entrants. In March the course breakdown was published while John Lloyd rode every detail of it; magazine competitions with Bikemagic and What Mountain Bike offered free entries and the use of a Mercedes-Benz support van. In May, researchers from the University of Glasgow joined to study sports drinks on riders during the event, following a similar University of Plymouth study at the TransWales. A week out, the organisers issued the full location plan, from registration at Selkirk Rugby Club on 26 May to the finish there on 2 June.
Race Week, as Reported
Around 245 riders started from a drizzly Selkirk at 9am on Sunday 27 May — among them TransAlp and TransRockies veteran Keith Bontrager, riding solo for MBUK, and a pair of singlespeeders on Trek 69ers. Daily reports filed by travelling writer Matt Skinner tracked the week: the 76 km opening haul to Moffat over Capell Fell; the first special stage on Drumlanrig’s roots, won by defending TransWales champions Ryan Bevis and Jonathan Pugh; the 107 km longest day through Ae Forest; Dalbeattie’s team time trial under blue skies; Mabie’s relay and a thunderstorm on the road back to Moffat; and the NiteRider night time trial at Glentress, where the fastest pairing cleared the 10 km course in 27:09 by lamplight.
The final stage brought the field back over Minch Moor to Selkirk on 2 June. Bevis and Pugh took the overall BeOne male title in 47:12:23, Andy Barlow and Meggie Bichard the solo crowns, and Rob Waller, Julie Dinsdale, the Hortons, Singleton and Strong, and Cartner and Brennan the remaining categories. What Mountain Bike hosted the finisher party, and coverage ran across cycling media from CyclingNews to Singletrackworld. The full stage-by-stage detail is on the stages page.
After the Finish — Where the Record Ends
The organisers’ closing bulletin thanked sponsors and riders, offered leftover holdalls, jerseys and Buffs for sale, and announced the next step: the Trans-UK format would return to its birthplace for a second TransWales, provisionally 16–23 August 2008 from Builth Wells. Pre-event material had spoken of making the TransScotland “a permanent fixture of the UK mountain bike events calendar”, but the surviving record documents no second Scottish edition. As preserved, the TransScotland’s history begins and ends with 2007 — a single, completed, closely raced event.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the event move from Wales to Scotland?
After the success of the 2006 Merida TransWales, the organisers chose to take the format north to showcase the 7stanes trail network, with the support of Forestry Commission Scotland and the 7stanes team. A return to Wales was announced for 2008.
Who sponsored the TransScotland?
Chain Reaction Cycles was title sponsor and Merida Bikes the bike sponsor. Categories were backed by BeOne, Buff, High5, Gore and Scottish Tourism, with support from Mercedes-Benz, NiteRider, Schwalbe, What Mountain Bike, BikeMagic.com, Insect Solutions, Forestry Commission Scotland and the 7stanes.
How many riders took part in 2007?
Entry was capped at 300 and around 700 people had joined the pre-entry list; the reports from race week describe roughly 245–250 riders starting in Selkirk, drawn from a dozen countries beyond the UK.
Was there a TransScotland 2008?
Not according to the surviving record. At the 2007 finish the organisers announced the series would return to Wales in August 2008 for a second TransWales, and no later Scottish edition appears in the preserved material.
Who reported on the event?
Travelling writer Matt Skinner filed daily reports, photographer Jon Brook shot the week, and coverage appeared on CyclingNews, Singletrackworld, BikeMagic, MBUK, What Mountain Bike and other cycling outlets of the time.