TransWales ’06

The TransWales ‘06 event is the first ever seven day long two person team mountain bike stage event in the UK. With a mixture of linking stages and special stages it promises to put a fresh spin on the tradition of endurance stage events. Not just endurance but also tactics, the right equipment and the ability to pace both yourself and your team mate will be key to enjoying as well as to winning this unique event. The TransWales takes the concept of events like the TransAlp or the TransRockies and transplants it to the terrain and conditions we have in Wales, but with a special twist to further spice things up. Unlike events like the TransAlp, where it’s a straight shoot point-to-point event, the TransWales blends scenic linking stages to showcase some of the very best scenery and natural terrain Wales has to offer with optional timed special stages. The special stages will take place on four of the six of Wales’ internationally renowned purpose built trail centres, each rammed to the rafters with the very finest singletrack available. The linking stages require a certain amount of navigation and map reading to back-up the way-marking which will be put in place. There will also be a pre-set time limit which every team will try to get as close as possible to without breaking it. Energy efficiency is key here which will require perfection when it comes to pacing yourself without running into overtime. If however, a rider comes in after the pre-set time limit penalty seconds will be added to the following timed sections. This requires the team to work together, making sure that their skills and equipment are up to the job and helping each other out when necessary. The special stages are themselves optional for the competitors. If a rider is not going for the ‘crown’ he or she can simply sit out the special stages or just enjoy them as a fun-loaded singletrack fix without worrying about the time. The special stages will be run as either relay (one rider starts the other one takes over half way) or pairs (both riders ride together for the whole length) time trials and require again a mixture of skills. “Who is the strongest climber?”, “Who is the better descender?”, “What bike is the right one for the event?”, “Can I go flat out for the whole distance or do I still have to pace myself?” will be discussed in the minutes leading up to the start and weeks before the event gets going. These special stages will be gripping fights for split seconds and will be packed full of drama. Concentration and speed will be the order of the day as even the smallest mistake can make the difference between being on the podium or in front of it. The right choice of reliable equipment will also have a vital role as there will be no time for fixing problems this is just speed, speed, speed! But the TransWales is not just about riding your bike fast and long. It is also about making new friends whilst discussing the days events over dinner, riding through amazing countryside in one of the most picturesque parts of the British Isles, pushing your own limits, following an active and healthy lifestyle and simply about being part of something. The price for the TransWales ’06 MTB stage challenge is £400 per rider. This price includes the following: Ride entry, free breakfast, lunch and dinner, free usage of service stations, free luggage and test transport from location to location, finishing Jersey, free map and course material, free usage of facilities, free camping at all stage locations starting with Saturday night at the White House Farm in Builth and finishing with the following Saturday night at the same location, free parking for the week (at your own risk) and mega event goodie holdall (worth more than £150) which will travel with you for the whole duration, and is yours to keep! The TransWales will have a prize fund of £15,000 - £5,000 in cash and £10,000 in products. We will give rankings in the male, female, vets and mixed categories and will have day winners as well as over all winners. The day winners will be rewarded with prizes and the over all winners and leaders will be rewarded with cash prizes as well as leader jerseys throughout the event The event will have 4 categories: MALE, FEMALE, VETS (40+) and MIXED. There will be no further age categories. Registration, gear and bike checks, and the pasta party will be on Saturday the 12th August at the White House Farm in Builth Wells. The first ride will be started early on Sunday morning (13th August 2006) from the farm. All riders have to register and get their gear and their bikes checked on Saturday (12th August 2006) between 12 pm (noon) and 8pm. Further details and a downloadable entry form are available on www.mtbtransuk.co.uk. Alternatively you can send a SAE for an entry form to: MOUNTAIN BIKE EVENTS LTD, 3 Belmont Road, Brislington, Bristol, BS4 3PB. By Michael Wilkens