Britain’s most epic mountain bike challenge, the GORE BIKE WEAR® TransWales, powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport begins this weekend (13-20 August); this year is also the first to see a prologue event on the eve of the race. To celebrate, all riders pre-entering to the all-new prologue this Friday will be entered into a prize draw to win hundreds of pounds of GORE BIKE WEAR® gear!
Entries are still open for the 40km prologue marathon that includes a timed special stage for a truly ‘shrunk in the wash’ GORE BIKE WEAR® TransWales, powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport experience. The organisers have today announced that all pre-entries to the prologue this Saturday (starts at 11am at the Penmaenau Caravan Park, Builth Wells) will also be entered into a prize draw to win some fabulous GORE BIKE WEAR® prizes. These are:
1st prize: Fusion GORE TEX® Active Shell Jacket, worth £220!
2nd prize: Fusion AS Cross WINDSTOPPER® Jacket, worth £160!
3rd prize: Alp X Thermo Jersey, worth £84.99!
There are also five free entries to the Ruthin Chain Reaction Cycles MTB-Marathon up for grabs. So if you haven’t already signed up, now’s there’s even more reason to do it! Entries cost £25 for all non-registered GORE BIKE WEAR® TransWales, powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport riders and can be purchased via the online entry page.
Taking hundreds of riders from around the world through the wilds of Wales, this unique
event covers 536km (333 miles) with 15,260m (1,758,530ft) of climbing in just seven days and can be ridden solo or in pairs. Split between marathon-style linking stages that test endurance together with intense special ‘rally-style’ special stages – including a technical hill climb, downhill, night riding, and general trail riding special stages – the GORE BIKE WEAR® TransWales, powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport tests all-round fitness, speed and technical ability to truly find the strongest riders to be crowned its champions. There are also two ‘mini’ GORE BIKE WEAR® TransWales’ – three and four day options in addition to the full fat seven day challenge.
Once again we have a strong field of supporters backing the event and the various categories. These are: Buff Headwear www.buffwear.co.uk – open female pairs category
Merida Bikes www.merida.com – open male pairs category
Alpina helmets www.alpina-helmets.co.uk – veterans pairs category
Birzman tools www.birzman.co.uk – mixed pairs category sponsor
Schwalbe tyres www.schwalbe.com – open solo category
Saris racks www.saris.com – veterans solo category
High5 nutrition www.high5-online.com and our night stage sponsor Exposure Lights www.exposurelights.com.
FORMAT ANNOUNCEMENT
The organisers have also announced that this year’s GORE BIKE WEAR® Trans Wales, powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport will be the last in the current format – however, it might return in a much altered form next year. With this in mind, the organiser’s are fired up to make this year’s GORE BIKE WEAR® TransWales, powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport one to truly remember in order to send it off in fine style.
MarathonMTB.com will be bringing you daily reports and pictures of each days’ stage live from the event for the duration of the GORE BIKE WEAR® TransWales, powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport. YOu can also follow the event with daily Twitter feeds and Facebook updates. You can also catch up with all the action on the event website.
Event footage from 2010