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NEWS... |
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03.08.10 Selkirk event report HERE>> |
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28.07.10 Selkirk Event News HERE>> |
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06.07.10 Grassington event report HERE>> |
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30.06.10 News update before the Yorkshire round HERE>> |
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24.06.10 IMPORTANT NEWS from the Grassington Round HERE>> |
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25.05.10 News and Photos from the Builth Marathon HERE>> |
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21.05.10 News from the Builth event showground HERE>> |
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19.05.10 Only a couple of days before the Builth event, latest HERE>> |
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26.04.10 Youtube videos and more from the first event HERE>> |
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19.04.10 News report from the first of this years Marathons HERE>> |
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09.04.10 News from the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells...HERE>> |
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06.04.10 Only a couple of days to go before the first event of 2010 - latest event news HERE>> |
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26.03.10 Only a couple of weeks to go before the 1st event of the 2010 season will kick off at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells...HERE>> |
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15.03.10 Temperatures are still low but there is no denying that spring is trying its best to break through. And with spring approaching the 1st round of the Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon Series powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport can’t be far away. In fact we are talking only four weeks from now. HERE>> |
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10.02.10 For 2010 the Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon Series is being supported by Mercedes-Benz and the Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport van. This versatile vehicle delivers on style without compromising practicality. The Vito Sport will be on site at the event, showing off its assets and why it’s got the mountain bikers’ seal of approval.HERE>> |
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2009 News HERE>> |
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2008 News HERE>> |
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2003 |
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Builth Wells Event Review
Builth Wells, the venue where the original MTB Marathon event took
place way back in the mists of time in 2000, with a total of 800 riders,
was once again the flagship event for the 2003 series. This time,
however, it attracted over 1,300 riders strutting their funky marathon
stuffs in and around the picturesque town; it’s come a long
way baby.
It might have grown in size but the Builth Wells round is still set
in the beautiful countryside of mid-Wales, with its rolling hills
and valleys, and some truly memorable riding, of which the Marathon
team took advantage of by making full use of John Lloyd’s in-depth
trail knowledge of the area. There might be more riders than there
was first time around, but the spirit had not been lost: Builth Wells
remained the original and best venue of the 2003 MTB Marathon series.
Unlike the previous year, where rains churned parts of the course
into a quagmire, the weather on offer was nothing but the best Welsh
sunshine, of blue skies dappled with streaks of Mr Whippy clouds -
of the ilk only found in a Mint Sauce sky. Blissful,
“The course was superb, the downhills were fantastic,”
said Daniel Sweet. “I guess we all saw what we missed in the
mud last year!”
Unlike the other two rounds of the series, Builth Wells offered up
the full quota of marathon distances to chose from: 50km, 75km or
the full 100km. It acted as a perfect step-up for riders who completed
the 50km at Rhayader to try the intermediate 75km before going for
the full 100km distance at the final round. Not a bad little way of
doing things really, and definitely one that many riders took advantage
of.
The course was bone dry and the en-masse start through the streets
of Builth has to be ridden to be appreciated: the huge snaking, writhing
mass of riders billowing out from the event village, cheered and applauded
by the locals lining the streets was a great experience guaranteed
to crack a smile on your face as you pedal behind the lead car.
The closest many of the marathon riders will possibly get to the atmosphere
and crowd support of riding of riding the Tour de France. After that,
it was out and onto the hills, up a steady climb to the ridge before
sharply flying straight down the side of the hill along some steep
but open big-fun trail; and you know straight away that the course
is going to rock! It’s about as perfect a 100km you’re
likely to come across - great big climbs, oodles of singletrack, technical
sections, fast, floaty and back tyre ass-rubbingly-steep descents
all meshed with a perfect balance, for the big fun total mountain
bike marathon feeling. Looking around the riders spinning and grinding
their ways around the course there was not a single rider without
a smile, a glint in their eye, or who hadn’t lost themselves
to the heavenly riding; laughing, joking, cajoling and loving it.
“You totally lulled me into a false sense of security with Rhayader
as Builth Wells was even better/harder,” Les Taylor commented.
“It felt like someone had really used every ounce of their local
knowledge on the course and really thought about it ‘cos it
was fab!”
Builth ended feeling like a lazy day at some festival but with top
quality riding on amazing trails with a real strong sense of camaraderie
and fun: without doubt, an absolutely beautiful event in every sense
of the word. Riders were chatting and joking as they went round, and
then when they finally rolled over the finish line - whether under
four hours, or over eight - everyone would be applauded home by the
throng of finishers and supporters relaxing in the finishing arena.
“Everything fell into place,” summarised Mike Wilkens:
“great weather, good people, nice location and plenty of positive
comments about the new course.”
The atmosphere was unique, and if ever there was an event that catches
the essence of a day in the hills in the sunshine, it’s the
Builth Wells round of the MTB Marathon.
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2003 |
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