Special Stage Four
Team relay time-trial, Nant-y-Arian
Total distance: 14km
Climbing: 600m

Followed by: Linking Stage Six
Nant-y-Arian to Strate Florida
Total distance: 72km
Climbing: 2100m

The penultimate day of the Merida Bikes TransWales saw the sun creep out from its wet slumber in time to turn the heat up for the final special stage. This would be the decider to seal the overall results and with the racing so close in many categories there was little margin for error or complacency. With the weather finally coming good everything was set for riders to begin the home straight on a high.

The morning’s special stage took place on a slightly abridged version of the Summit Trail at Nant-y-Arian: with 14km and 600m of climbing including the infamous Leg Burner climb and fast, swooping singletrack section it would be a test of fitness as well as high speed bike handling. And with the racing so close going into it, there had to be no holding back.

In the USE Men’s Solo category, the fight for the overall title intensified with three serious claims to it. Last year’s TransScotland Solo winner Andy Barlow (Whyte Bikes) – a very technical and powerful rider – had been struggling to show the form that led him to last year’s highly popular win. Admitting during yesterday’s linking stage that he was struggling to get in the right mental place for it, he sadly slumped into 5th in the special stage in a time of 39:38. With Andy’s challenge for the overall seemingly over, three names emerged head and shoulders above the rest fighting tooth and nail for the top spot.

Previously, both Ryan Bevis (RAM Bikes) and Frans Claes (Connection Granville), the current overall leader prior to this morning’s special stage, had both taken special stage wins, but today they had to bow down before the advance of Ewan Thorburn (Fat Tread Bikes). Ewan stormed the special stage to claim a convincing win in a time of 38:04, 17 seconds clear of Frans in second, with Bevis third in 38:51. Ewan has been bubbling under the radar for the duration of the event, but with six days of hard riding and racing in riders’ legs, his endurance, power and skill brought him deservedly to the fore. With the final general classification being announced at journey’s end tomorrow in Builth Wells, it really is going down to the wire between these three.

In the High5 Mixed category, the top two teams – Meggie Bichard and Ed Kerly (Team Chance), and David Evans and Lily Mathews (Team 8) – had been swapping the top spot in the special stages all week. And today was no exception: after losing out in yesterday’s special stage, Meggie Bichard and Ed Kerly (Team Chance) took their chance and went all out for the win. Their hard work paid dividends and they swept David Evans and Lily Mathews’ challenge aside by just under a minute.

In the USE Women’s Solo category Fi Spotswood cemented her overall lead by producing an emphatic win in a time of 48:48, just under 10 minutes faster than her closest rival Amy Baron-Hall (trio25.blogspot.com). Similarly, the closely fought singlespeed category became a foregone conclusion as Trek 69er Collective’s Matt Carr faded at the last with tired, tired legs. Pushing a 32:15 gear all week may have just been too much on the climbs and just blunted the sharpness of the usually fiery singlespeeder. Henry Richard Lansdown (Bike Shed Wales) swept to the win in a time of 43:17 with Carr crossing the line back in 45:42.

Elsewhere, Steve Heading screwed the final nail in the coffin for his competitor’s chances for the overall title in the USE Veteran Men’s Solo category as he again took another special stage win. This time his winning margin over second placed rider of a minute and forty seconds with a time of 41:31. This makes Steve untouchable in the overall and a deserved and convincing winner of the Merida Bikes TransWales 2008.

But the event wasn’t all about the racing: due its unique format of non-competitive linking stages together with rally style special stages, it also attracts riders looking for a challenge and truly memorable weeks mountain biking. One such pair was What Mountain Bike magazine’s Merida Bikes TransWales competition winners: Gareth Taylor and Lewis Collins.

Hailing from Brighton in England’s south east, the pair are lifelong bike riders of any persuasion – both dirt, tarmac and BMX. Taking a chance they entered the comp to win the ride of the Merida Bikes TransWales but also walked away with enough schwag to keep them in bike kit, clothing and energy drinks for years courtesy of the events sponsors – Meridsa Bikes, Gore Bike Wear, High5 energy food and drinks, USE and Exposure Lights, Ergon, Niner, and Buff. In total, the prize was worth thousands of pounds.

“It was sunny. It was warm. And there were some great natural descents – very steep and rocky, very technical with loose sections and extremely fast,” said Gareth on finishing the day’s stage. “I’m loving it,” he continued, “I’ve had a fantastic time and am absolutely loving it. I had a sense of humour failure on the first two days but I’ve recovered now: I’ve met some really nice people and it’s been really inspiring.” All the while Lewis is nodding his head in agreement as Gareth is talking: “It’s easy to have one good bit of riding that you’re good at,” Lewis explains, “whether that’s climbing, descending or fitness – but here you have to be good at everything all the time and be super fit and mentally hardy as well.”

Gareth and Lewis’ exploits have been recorded in glorious technicolour and will be featured in a forthcoming issue of What Mountain Bike. For more on the magazine – including what’s in the current and next issues – log onto www.bikeradar.com or pick up a copy at your local store.

Tomorrow sees the longest stage of the event that takes the riders the final furlong from Strata Florida to Builth Wells – some 84km and 2500m of climbing (but with 2600m of descending). There the final winners will be announced, the riders will finally kick back and relax over a beverage at the Red Bull finishing party, share stories of mishaps and near misses, of long but rewarding days in the saddle, and finally bring a close to the 2008 Merida Bikes TransWales.

“I’m really excited about tomorrow,” said Gareth, “I know it’s going to be a long day but I know I can do it so I’m really looking forward to getting out there. After everything it’s going to be great to chill out with all the people we’ve ridden with, have a few drinks although I’m also really sad it’s the last day. I’m definitely going to be coming back again.”

Coming up on Day 7

Linking Stage 7: Strata Florida to Builth Wells (83.5km, 2560m of climbing)

Full results at www.mtbtransuk.co.uk