A minute into New Year’s Day saw entries open for the UK cross country racing scene’s traditional season opener – Battle on the Beach – now all of five years old!
Luckily for those of us who were drinking prosecco rather than clicking the ‘enter’ button, there are still a few spots left, but don’t delay as Organiser Matt Page reckons that all the entries will be gone by midnight tonight…
Matt went on to say: “From its humble begins, the unique event has grown to become one of the biggest cycle events in the UK, attracting over 850 riders from across Europe to Pembrey Country Park in South Wales earlier last year. As ever, it is open to all bikes, from cyclocross bikes to fat bikes and everything in between, the diversity is what makes the event so unique. Compared to the popular Beach Racing in The Netherlands and Belgium, Battle on the Beach is different due to the rock hard, fast sand, with previous land speed records taking place on the beach and the adjacent Pendine Sands.” (Guy Martin’s speed record on a pushbike was done on the neighbouring beach, to give you an idea of how flat and fast it is).
The real fun comes after the course heads off the beach and into the fantastic singletrack hidden behind the dunes in the pine forest with a maze of endless sweeping singletrack to put a smile on everyone’s face. There will be plenty for the serious racers but even more than a few surprises for everyone else around the course to keep you on guard and smiling.
With equal prize money and a total of £2000 on offer for the victorious few, and bundles of swag from the sponsors Kinesis UK, Lezyne, Schwalbe, Squirt Lube and Surly, with prizes not just for the fastest riders. To date, the event has not been won overall by a British rider. Will anyone be able to stop the incredible Dutch and Belgian riders in 2018?
Lezyne Battle in the Dark returns after it being a huge success last year. Held on the Saturday, before the main race it will be a single lap time-trial, held just after sunset. £100 cash for the winners but prizes for every 10th place.
New for 2018 will be live music and entertainment through Saturday night, making it a fun, action packed weekend away for all. With kids’ racing from balance bikes to Under 14 on the Saturday, the main race open to anyone over 14 on Sunday and even a category for “Supreme Veterans” 70+ it is a weekend that welcome everyone.
Up to three nights camping is included with the weekend pass and entries and more details can be found here: https://www.battleonthebeach.co.uk/events/battleonthebeach2018/
Comments (2)
Leave Reply
Post Comment
No battle on beach is not miserable it is a great laugh!
And entries are now closed, so there are plenty of nutters out there to race it 🙂