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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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2004 |
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2004 Review
Mountain bike marathon riding is undeniably the people’s choice
of mountain biking: whether you crash round the distance with a smile
the length of the Great Wall of China on your chops, or zoom round
it in an Olympic effort of finessed speed and effortless control,
it’s where every mountain biker has common ground. International
athletes rub shoulders with weekend warriors; first timers with die-hard
bikers, and the beautifully big with the wonderfully petite: out on
the marathon course is where mountain biking is most at home. “The
main things I enjoy about the Merida100s are that they’re one
big lap - this is a proper marathon in my mind,” said British
Olympian Oli Beckingsale. “The multiple lap enduros are fun
but are no way near as epic as a big loop.”
With the UCI introducing the first ever Marathon World Cup Series,
British Cycling putting on the first ever UK Marathon National Champs,
and the third ever Marathon World Championships taking place (where
Merida’s Gunn-Rita Dahle will defend her World title), 2005
is the year that MTB marathon riding hits the big time on a global
scale. “Marathon races are very important now,” continued
Oli, “the challenge they provide is attracting more and more
people, so they are the way forward for the sport in terms of participation
and for that reason they are important to me for my profile and for
my sponsors as this is where our market is.” But it wouldn’t
be so if it weren’t for events like the Merida 100, and for
the thousands of everyday riders who flock to them each year for their
unique combination of awesome riding, beautiful locations, camaraderie
and slick organisation.
The MTB-Marathon Series is the original and by far the best series
of its kind in the UK: its roots go back to the year 2000, when the
first ever 100 MTB-Marathon took place in Builth Wells. Now almost
five years on the event has grown into the foremost series of its
kind in the UK; 2004 cemented its reputation but also raised the bar
higher as the MTB-Marathon team were determined not to rest on the
laurels of the previous year’s efforts. To this end, two new
events were added to the solid foundations already laid by Rhayader,
Builth Wells, and Ruthin: the Merida 100 ‘On Holiday’
event in Austria, and also the cult classic of Selkirk, Scotland.
Rhayader opened the batting in fine style for the second year running.
Running over a bank holiday weekend put a totally different slant
on the event as it turned into a great long weekend of mountain biking
with great biking people. Many first-timers had chosen to kick off
their mountain bike experience with Rhayader and these new riders
helped to swell the event’s ranks to full strength and push
it to the verge of being over-subscribed.
Builth was once more a very fine event and underlined its status as
the home of the MTB-Marathon Series. With 1,207 riders tackling the
challenging but fun courses on the hills surrounding the town, the
sun beat down on the trails and the unique festival atmosphere was
in clear evidence. With a few extras thrown in for good measure including
post-ride massage, skills tuition from the Off-road Training Consultancy
(OTC), and mean fruit smoothies courtesy of What Mountain Bike magazine
to help keep everyone refreshed and energised, Builth was once again
the biggest round of the 2004 series.
Then it was time to jet off to Austria for the Salzkammergut Trophy
in Bad Goisern to take on an alpine marathon and to watch the pro’s
duke it out for the 2004 UCI MTB Marathon World Championship crown.
Despite heavy rains and freezing temperatures the event was a success,
with many riders taking away more than their fair share of stories
of bike heroism...
Selkirk was a first for the Merida100s, as it saw the entire format
uprooted from its native Wales to head north to Scotland for the very
first time. 722 riders hit up the critically acclaimed courses designed
by Scottish trail maestro Peter Laing; the 80km course was arguably
the best mountain bike course this country has ever seen. Brutally
technical, pant wettingly fast and full on with obscene amounts of
climbing and descending it succeeded in reducing grown men to tears
over the sheer endorphin overload it produced. Praised both by the
riders who took it on and by the mountain bike media alike, Selkirk
was without doubt the event of the 2004 series.
Ruthin had a hard act to follow after the unmitigated success of Selkirk,
but in true Welsh style it held its own and did itself proud and brought
the biggest ever Merida100 MTB-Marathon Series to a successful and
satisfying climax: “I left every event satisfied with everything
I had done and I’m probably the series’ biggest critic,”
said co-organiser Mike Wilkens, “that doesn’t mean that
everything was 100% perfect, but considering the circumstances I was
more than happy with the overall outcome of the series. It gave us
inspiration for 2005 and ideas to introduce new events like the Exposure
Lights Big Night Out night time marathon...”
“I like the fact that in enduro events like the Merida 100s,
you can ride according to how you feel,” What Mountain Bike
editor, Steve Worland told the Merida 100 team. “There’s
no urgency unless you’re in the mood for urgency. It doesn’t
matter if you start with a hangover - it’s nice to have an excuse
to hang back, have a chat with other riders, ride yourself in, have
yo-yo battles with other individuals when you feel like it and then
finish with a flourish... or a whimper. You’ll get a great sense
of achievement either way.” And for 2005 there will be no shortage
of opportunities to do all of the above as the series expands yet
further, with the world’s first ever night time MTB marathon,
the introduction of an all-new Spring Marathon, and returns to all
of the great venues of last year too for more mountain biking as it
should be.
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2004 |
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