Mike Davis in action! Photos thanks to Matt Skinner

Day Three: The Night Train

• Machynlleth to Coed y Brenin
• Total distance: 68km
• Climbing: 2,100mSpecial Stage 2
• Coed y Brenin Karrimor/Red Bull routes
• Total distance: 10km
• Climbing: 280mCoed y Brenin is arguably the most important single place in the annals of British mountain biking: it is the pioneering centre that first developed purpose built trails – built by the internationally respected Dafydd Davis, OBE – that have since become a defining feature of modern mountain biking in the British Isles; it is fitting that the first ever Merida TransWales should include a pilgrimage here. Day three would see the very first of these trails – the Red Bull and the Karrimor – laid bare under the blinding spot lights of 250 pairs of high powered halogen, halide and Super-LED bulbs in the event’s most special stage: the night time team time trial. But first the riders had to cover the 68km and 2,100m from Machynlleth to Coed y Brenin…

  The original linking stage was altered slightly due to a last minute land dispute; the new profile still looked like an erratic ECG with big peaks and troughs forcing riders to drop their hard earned altitude quicker than a Las Vegas stripper drops her draws, before hoiking back up a behemoth of yet another climb. And all more than twice nightly: no matter how you looked at it this was going to be a tough stage; which for the Mud Dock Solo Category leader and British #3, Phil Spencer, suited him just fine as he went off on what he described as a hard training ride after ‘taking it too easy’ the last couple of days.

  With the Leader’s Jerseys on display on all the category leaders at the start, the linking stage slapped straight into some seriously long climbs, testing both the heart and the muscle of the riders. Steep and loose pitches conspired to knock riders off line and off the bike, before finally summiting atop at 317m with some stunning views and then dropping down again for some gravity pay off. With a little blacktop to help spin the legs out it was quickly back to the grindstone up the long and sustained climb of the Rhydoriw pass at 401m, before snaking down its rocky and convulsing flanks in a heady rush of adrenaline for the descent of the day towards Arthog, just down from Dolgellau. It then followed the Mawddach Trail cycle route to Dolgellau and the back way out of town to Coed y Brenin itself.

   

  Photos thanks to Matt Skinner

  The 10km special stage featured 280m of climbing and kicked off at 9pm following an amalgamation of the old visitor centre side of the Karrimor (now called the Beast) and the Red Bull loops on part of what is now known as the Tawr trail: climbing out as usual up fire road to the heads of Snap, Crackle, and Pop singletrack sections and their rocky blend of drop offs, slots, cambered turns, and culvert bridges, the course then spat riders out onto the old Karrimor route to thrash down the singletrack once again. The course then climbed gradually to the top of the singletrack and dual slalom course for the final floodlit blast to the finish.

  The stage certainly lived up to its billing as a ‘special stage’: few riders were without mishap as they careered around the course in the pitch black. Any sign of tired or weary legs from the day’s stage was erased by the adrenaline of the racing and although there were plenty of offs, some serious bike mashing carnage seeing trashed rear wheels, ripped off rear mechs and a few spots of blood left as reminders of the drama, the stage was enthusiastically received by riders; a sentiment that was further reinforced by mountain bike journalist Lars of Dutch magazine Fiets, when he said that the Merida TransWales surpasses the TransAlps and is at least on a par with the TransRockies for the riding and technical challenge.

  With the rain seeping into the ground, the second special stage results were collated and computed with major ramifications for the overall. Phil Spencer scored the fastest lap of the event with a phenomenal 29mins 10 secs, 5 seconds faster than the Men’s Overall leader, Jonathan Pugh, who’s partner Ryan Bevis finished a minute or so later. A result that strengthened the Mojo Suspension duo’s place as overall leaders in the Hayes Disc Brake Men’s Category, but behind them it was all-change: Fabio & Grooverider were knocked out of the top three by Team Solo: Dan Wells & Matt Mountford in second with the Hoop Troop (David Preston & Chris Herranghty) now in third.

   

  Photos thanks to Matt Skinner

  The women’s is becoming a run away by the She Cycles team who are putting in consistent and convincing times, with the men’s solo still being led out in dominating fashion by Phil Spencer although the top three are separated by just 7 minutes after two special stages with two yet to run. Either second placed Rob Lee of Extreme Endurance or third placed Charlie Eustace could close this gap. Similarly, things are tight in the High5 Mixed Category with the MTB Marathon team of Renell & Steven Brennan still leading but only by a very slim 1min 44secs ahead of the new second placed Pembroke Pedallers (Maggie Bichard & Max Jeffries), with the Epic Adventure/What Mountain Bike team of Fiona Spotswood & Gary Bridgeman slipping into third 22mins and 25secs down overall. Elsewhere, Sally Lee is still leading the women’s solo ahead of Tatiana Troll at 12 mins 52secs down, with the Saris Veterans Category now being led by the pairing of Bernard Wragge-Morley & Nick Perceval. It’s clear that at the halfway stage everything is still up for grabs, and all will be decided in the next few days.

  Wednesday morning emerged a little damp and overcast but sees the fourth linking stage from Coed y Brenin to the Cli-Machx trail near Machynlleth, and with it another 75km and 3,000m of climbing for the riders. But that’s it: there’s no special stage today so the overall standings will stay the same until after Thursday morning’s special stage on the Cli-machx trail, one of Wales’ most popular of recent trails that should do a fine job of spicing up the proceedings even more.

  RESULTS & STANDINGS AFTER SPECIAL STAGE 2

  Hayes Disc Brake Men’s Category

   

• 1 – Mojo Suspension: Ryan Bevis & Jonathan Pugh
• 2 – Team Solo: Dan Wells & Matt Mountford
• 3 – Hoop Troop: David Preston & Chris HerranghtyBuff Women’s Category
• 1 – SheCycles: Kim Hurst & Heather Dawe
   

  Matt Carr from MudDock. Photos thanks to Matt Skinner

  High5 Mixed Category

   

• 1 – MTB Marathon: Renell & Steven Brennan
• 2 – Pembroke Pedallers: Maggie Bichard & Max Jeffries
• 3 – Dinsdale/Collins: Julie Dinsdale & Andy CollinsSaris Veterans Category
• 1 – Wragge-Morley/Perceval: Bernard Wragge-Morley & Nick Perceval
• 2 – X-Cumbria Cyclists: Tony Gray & Mike Hayward
• 3 – Velo 95: Ian Muir & Bob MooreMud Dock Cycleworks Solo Category

  Mens:

• 1 – Bikin Cyprus International: Phil Spencer
• 2 – Extreme Endurance: Rob Lee
• 3 – South Downs Way Champion: Charlie EustaceWomens:
• 1 – Extreme Endurance: Sally Lee
• 2 – Tatiana Troll 
  

  Photos thanks to Matt Skinner

  Overall Standings After Special Stage 2

  Hayes Disc Brake Men’s Category

   

• 1 – Mojo Suspension: Ryan Bevis & Jonathan Pugh
• 2 – Hoop Troop: Dan Wells & Matt Mountford (+5:37)
• 3 – Sagem UK: Paul Davis & Brent Collyer (+7:16)Buff Women’s Category
• 1 – SheCycles: Kim Hurst & Heather Dawe
• 2 – Pedal Pusher: Jane Hurley & Helen Coakley (+1:31:01)High5 Mixed Category
• 1 – MTB Marathon: Renell & Steven Brennan
• 2 – Pembroke Pedallers: Maggie Bichard & Max Jeffries (+1:44)
• 3 – Epic Adventure/What Mountain Bike: Fiona Spotswood & Gary Bridgeman (+22:25)Saris Veterans Category
• 1 – Wragge-Morley/Perceval: Bernard Wragge-Morley & Nick Perceval
• 2 – X-Cumbria Cyclists: Tony Gray & Mike Hayward (+25.43)
• 3 – Velo 95: Ian Muir & Bob Moore (+52:51)Mud Dock Cycleworks Solo Category

  Mens:

• 1 – Bikin Cyprus International: Phil Spencer
• 2 – Extreme Endurance: Rob Lee (+5:53)
• 3 – South Downs Way Champion: Charlie Eustace (+7:02)Womens:
• 1 – Extreme Endurance: Sally Lee
• 2 – Tatiana Troll (+12:52)
• 3 – Joanne Carritt (+33:29) 
  

  Photos thanks to Matt Skinner