Gore Bike Wear has signed up as title sponsor for the 2009 TransWales (15-22 August 2009), with its commitment to TransUK events in place for the next three years. Gore Bike Wear has been a category sponsor for TransWales and TransScotland for the last two years.

“The TransWales 2009 offers a fun endurance experience for people who want to be pushed to their limit,” says Gore Bike Wear’s Jonathan Bell. “The TransWales takes people out into some inspiring and challenging countryside and also takes them mentally and physically out of their comfort zone. This event offers us a unique opportunity to be involved in a seven day mountain bike event, during which we will be offering participants the opportunity to test out our product for free without obligation.”

In addition to the support from Gore Bike Wear, TransWales ’09 is also supported by category sponsors Buff Headwear, Saris, Ergon, Merida Bikes, Schwalbe tires and Squirt. The night stage is sponsored by NiteRider, and High5 will be on board with innumerable gallons of energy drink.

The 2009 event will be the third TransWales, and largely sticks with the tried and tested formula – seven days, a mixture of untimed linking stages and timed special stages, to be tackled either as a pair or solo. A change for 2009 will be that the special stages will be encountered during the linking stages rather than either first thing or at the end of the day, a change which gives the organisers more flexibility for overnight stops. And following the “challenging” weather conditions of 2008, the organisers tell us that they’ve invested almost £40,000 in mobile facilities so that “a certain amount of comfort can be guaranteed”. Don’t expect the Ritz, though, you’re still going to be in a field in Wales…

The logistics of an event like this inevitably means a limited entry – there are just 300 spaces available. It’s first come, first served, so don’t hang around. Online entry is available at www.mtbtransuk.co.uk, at which site you can also find all the details you need, plus a picture gallery from previous events to give you an idea of what you’re getting into.