The Gore Bike Wear TransWales, powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport
Day One: ‘An Upward Curve’
Sunday 15th August
The first day of the GORE BIKE WEAR TransWales, powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport sees thrills and spills aplenty, plus plenty of vertical gain and gritted teeth as the riders break themselves in on the first special stage
Linking stage one (including special stage one)
Builth Wells – Knighton
Total distance: 58km
Climbing: 1810m
Descent: 1780m
At 9.30am on Sunday 15th August the Gore Bike Wear TransWales, powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport – Britain’s only 7-day mountain bike challenge – got underway in mid-Wales. In all, some 200 riders from 16 countries – including Germany, Holland and Kenya amongst many others – left the start point of Penmaenau Farm, near Builth Wells to head out along and over the hills that separated the day’s beginning from it’s end in Knighton some 58km away. The weather gods were smiling and warm temperatures and sunshine proved fine trail companions for the riders for the duration of the day.
Although the 58km distance is relatively short for by TransWales standards, course designer and co-organiser John Lloyd had ensured that the first day was not necessarily going to be an easy one. With no less than 1810m of climbing in that distance racked up over three major climbs – and an imbalanced 1780m of descending – the trend for the day was most definitely an upward one. Which was fitting as the first special stage of the TransWales – where the competitive element of the event would truly kick in – was a climbing time trial.
Although it was just 500m long and was reasonably sustained in gradient with no killer kicker at the end there was a fly in the ointment: it came a third of the way up the second major climb of the day up Great Rhos at 660m. This meant that riders’ legs were well and truly warmed up (or wrung out) by the time they arrived at the start line; to do well here would require riders to wedge the bit firmly between the teeth and turn the pedals as powerfully as possible whilst having the shear blooded-minded ability to buffer the lactic burn at the same time. Quite simply there would be no hiding in this race of truth: you either had the legs or you didn’t.
In the Schwalbe Solo Open Female Category, last year’s overall second placed female soloist – and current National 24hr Solo Champion – Rickie Cotter (WXC Racing) proved she had both speed and endurance in her legs as she stormed the special stage in 1min 51secs – a clear 18 seconds ahead of second placed Hannah Thorne with Fi Spotswood (For Goodness Shakes) in third. The Schwalbe Solo Men’s Open Category was closer fought and saw Ryan Hawson (Ayup Lighting) take the win by 6 seconds from Sean Grosvenor (Summit Cycles/Conti) in a time of just 1min 31secs.
After catching their breaths, the trail continued upwards once again, broke through the tree line and onto the moor tops for a hard-fought yet impressive panorama of mid-Wales. With the gravity credits bursting after the final very sappy section of the climb gleefully taking its toll it was time to head downhill. Finally. The riders hurled themselves headlong – and in some cases headfirst – into the slip-sliding mud-fest that Radnor Forest had been preparing for them.
Scything through the trails on Teflon trails they contoured around the forest tracks and then downwards at speeds in excess of 50kph with mud flying in all directions, tyres breaking out sideways, and – for some – rear mechs not being able to take the heat and deciding to exit the kitchen altogether. Eventually the trail dropped them rotor-pinging and grins splitting to the lunch stop by Pilleth. From here it was a relatively short spin and one last climb to finally and gratefully bring the day to an end with a quick pint at one of the local pubs at Knighton before the final wobble to the stage’s finish. In the end the first riders home were Darren Koslicki and Adam Wroz who completed the day in 3hrs 57mins with the last riders coming in safe and sound in under 7hrs.
With the warmth and sunshine keeping spirits high – plus the local watering hole – tomorrow’s stage is still largely out of mind. However, it’ll be a test with its 2140m of climbing and constant up/down course profile. But nothing good ever comes easy and tomorrow promises some true trail gems for riders’ to savour as it takes the Gore Bike Wear TransWales, powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport west from Knighton to Landiloes some 68km away.
SPECIAL STAGE ONE RESULTS
Schwalbe Solo Category – open female
1 – Rickie Justine COTTER (WXC Racing) 00:01:51
2 – Hannah THORNE 00:02:09
3 –Fiona SPOTSWOOD (For Goodness Shakes) 00:02:27
Schwalbe Solo Category – open male
1 – Ryan HAWSON (Ayup Lighting) 00:01:31
2 – Sean GROSVENOR (Summit Cycles / Conti) 00:01:37
3 – Michael MCCUTCHEON (MAD MTB) 00:01:40
SquirtSolo Category – vets male
1 – Daryl CAVILL (Tenby Aces Cycling Club) 00:01:47
2 – Steve WHITEHOUSE 00:01:56
3 – Ray BLABER 00:01:58
Merida Bikes Category – open male teams
1 – Neil Richardson & Dan Lewis (RAFCC) 00:01:36
2 – Gary Cousins & Andy Edwards (phasen9clothing.co.uk) 00:01:46
3 – Darren Koslicki & Adam Wroz 00:01:46
Buff Headwear Category – open female teams
1 – Steph Fountain & Lisa Bolton (Clifton CC) 00:02:30
2 – Julie Neuhoff & Victoria Moorhouse (With Hind Sight) 00:03:01
Alpina Helmets Category – vets male teams
1 – Trevor Marshall & David Sheppard 00:02:31
2 – Mark Olivier & Andrew Donkin (Invalids) 00:02:45
Birzman Tools Category – mixed teams
1 – Luc Selen & Wendy De Graaf (Double Dutch) 00:01:57
2 – Elizabeth Docherty & James Docherty (Ohh!) 00:02:17
3 – Claire Neuhoff & Simon Neuhoff (The Clantons) 00:02:21
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AFTER SPECIAL STAGE ONE
Schwalbe Solo Category – open female
1 – Rickie Justine COTTER (WXC Racing) 05:31:51
2 – Hannah THORNE 05:32:09
3 –Fiona SPOTSWOOD (For Goodness Shakes) 05:32:27
Schwalbe Solo Category – open male
1 – Ryan HAWSON (Ayup Lighting) 05:31:31
2 – Sean GROSVENOR (Summit Cycles / Conti) 05:31:37
3 – Michael MCCUTCHEON (MAD MTB) 05:31:40
SquirtSolo Category – vets male
1 – Daryl CAVILL (Tenby Aces Cycling Club) 05:31:47
2 – Steve WHITEHOUSE 05:31:56
3 – Ray BLABER 05:31:58
Merida Bikes Category – open male teams
1 – Neil Richardson & Dan Lewis (RAFCC) 05:31:36
2 – Gary Cousins & Andy Edwards (phasen9clothing.co.uk) 05:31:46
3 – Darren Koslicki & Adam Wroz 05:31:46
Buff Headwear Category – open female teams
1 – Steph Fountain & Lisa Bolton (Clifton CC) 05:32:30
2 – Julie Neuhoff & Victoria Moorhouse (With Hind Sight) 05:33:01
Alpina Helmets Category – vets male teams
1 – Trevor Marshall & David Sheppard 05:32:31
2 – Mark Olivier & Andrew Donkin (Invalids) 05:32:45
Birzman Tools Category – mixed teams
1 – Luc Selen & Wendy De Graaf (Double Dutch) 05:31:57
2 – Elizabeth Docherty & James Docherty (Ohh!) 05:32:17
3 – Claire Neuhoff & Simon Neuhoff (The Clantons) 05:32:21
The Gore Bike Wear TransWales, powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport
Day Two: ‘The Quiet Before The Storm’
Monday 16th August
The second day of the Gore Bike Wear TransWales, powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport sees the riders head out into the wilds and prepare themselves for stage three’s downhill time trial
Linking Stage Two
Knighton to Llanidloes
Total distance: 61km
Climbing: 2140m
After a clear night sky scattered with stars like dust the massed throng of Gore Bike Wear TransWales riders prepared for their second day in the saddle. And what a day: wall to wall sunshine and blue skies, dry trails, crystal views over the patchwork landscape of mid-Wales and some epic riding. It might not have seen a change in the overall standings due to no special stage but today nonetheless delivered great riding and stunning scenery in spades.
Although the lack of H2O dropping from above was merely the icing on the cake today was about completing the linking stage within the 6hr cut off time period. Parcelled with this was the need for riders to pace themselves to keep legs as fresh as possible in preparation for the competition that recommences tomorrow in earnest with the 7km downhill special stage at the awesome Climachx trail near Machynlleth. But before that there was the small matter of 61km and 2140m of climbing to focus on.
Leaving Knighton behind, the riders freed their legs up a gradual Tarmac climb that warmed up weary limbs before the gradient kicked hard to summit Bailey Hill. Continuing onwards, the stage struck out into the hills proper as it took the riders to the trails upon Glyndwr’s Way and into true big country: with sweeping panoramic coupled with blooming purple heather flanking the trail like a carpet of sentries the moorland top stretches were simply stunning.
For one rider – Paul ‘Latch’ Latchem – today, however, was not a good day. One of only about six riders who have ridden every single TransWales and TransScotland event, Latch’s day came to a premature end halfway along Glyndwr’s Way as both his seat tube and top tube catastrophically failed on a climb. Although not his day it was luck that the frame hadn’t failed on any one of the high speed descents that would’ve lead to something much worse than simply a lift to the stage’s end in one of the support vehicles.
After the scenery of the moor tops came a high speed and open descent down Moelfre Hill and into Moelfre itself. From here a smattering of short, sharp climbs and descents took the riders away from the moors and into the trees once again. The toll? More climbing. But the ascent gave way to the pay off of a tight yet fast rutted singletrack descent that began rocky, became sinuous and flanked with sumptuous views over towards Llandiloes itself, before steepening and becoming more enclosed and with a choice of only two ruts to put their wheels in. The outcome? A chaotic blend of Russian Roulette and pinball. Some, like the Schwalbe Women’s Solo leader Rickie Cotter (WXC Racing) took it by the scruff of the neck and came screeching to the bottom buzzing and smiling with rotors pinging. Others, however, took a flyer over the bars and were gifted a tacoed wheel for their troubles. Yet all made it down in one piece and pedalled what remained of the day’s stage to the finish, a warm shower, a sports massage, and – for most – a cold beer at Llandiloes Rugby Club’s bar.
Tomorrow sees the Gore Bike Wear TransWales, powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport really get into its stride with the second special stage a 7km downhill time trial at the Climachx trail near Machynlleth. Together with the special stage tomorrow is the first truly big day of this year’s TransWales as it sees the riders pedal 82km and 2430m of climbing of genuinely challenging terrain through Hafren Forest and thw wilderness beyond towards Macynlleth. But – in a reversal of stage one’s climbing trend – the stage also sees 2590m of descending. It’s about to get interesting.
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AFTER SPECIAL LINKING STAGE TWO
Schwalbe Solo Category – open female
1 – Rickie Justine COTTER (WXC Racing) 05:31:51
2 – Hannah THORNE 05:32:09
3 –Fiona SPOTSWOOD (For Goodness Shakes) 05:32:27
Schwalbe Solo Category – open male
1 – Ryan HAWSON (Ayup Lighting) 05:31:31
2 – Sean GROSVENOR (Summit Cycles / Conti) 05:31:37
3 – Michael MCCUTCHEON (MAD MTB) 05:31:40
SquirtSolo Category – vets male
1 – Daryl CAVILL (Tenby Aces Cycling Club) 05:31:47
2 – Steve WHITEHOUSE 05:31:56
3 – Ray BLABER 05:31:58
Merida Bikes Category – open male teams
1 – Neil Richardson & Dan Lewis (RAFCC) 05:31:36
2 – Gary Cousins & Andy Edwards (phasen9clothing.co.uk) 05:31:46
3 – Darren Koslicki & Adam Wroz 05:31:46
Buff Headwear Category – open female teams
1 – Steph Fountain & Lisa Bolton (Clifton CC) 05:32:30
2 – Julie Neuhoff & Victoria Moorhouse (With Hind Sight) 05:33:01
Alpina Helmets Category – vets male teams
1 – Trevor Marshall & David Sheppard 05:32:31
2 – Mark Olivier & Andrew Donkin (Invalids) 05:32:45
Birzman Tools Category – mixed teams
1 – Luc Selen & Wendy De Graaf (Double Dutch) 05:31:57
2 – Elizabeth Docherty & James Docherty (Ohh!) 05:32:17
3 – Claire Neuhoff & Simon Neuhoff (The Clantons) 05:32:21