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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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2006 |
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2006 Review: Ruthin Marathon
Coming To A Close
Bringing up the rear in its own indomitable style to again close out
another fine season of Merida Bikes MTB Marathon riding was Ruthin.
And it did not disappoint…
Ruthin is a small town in north Wales, flanked by the mighty Clywdian
Hills (www.ridetheclwyds.com)
that hold a fantastic spread of big open hill and singletrack trails,
the curators of which for the Merida Bikes MTB Marathons are the North
Wales Mountain Bike Association (NWMBA www.nwmba.org.uk).
For the past three years the NWMBA have been the backbone of the event
and once again their expertise was entrusted with producing the full
compliment of marathon distances – 25, 50, 75 and 100km –
over the Clwydian Hills, one of five areas of outstanding natural
beauty in Wales. Again, they managed to put together an inspiring
course packed full of variety and that epic, open country feel, ensuring
that the assorted 1,000 riders bracing the encroaching dark nights
over the weekend of the 16th to 17th September 2006, got a head full
of memories to tide them over for cold winter months.
The Clwydians are a 35km long chain of hills that run from Prestatyn
to Llandegla that rise to 554m at their highest point. The hills boast
curvaceous singletrack that laces the length and breadth of their
varied bulk, draped with open heather moor land, patch works of hedged
fields and coppices on their lower flanks, limestone geology, wooded
escarpments and forested river valleys. The Clwydians are a bona fide
mountain bike destination, with plenty of vertical to get your kicks
and lactic acid fits upon.
As the riders rolled out along Ruthin’s historic streets as
they embarked on their Merida Bikes MTB Marathon adventures, the rain
kissed them goodbye but – thankfully – kept short of giving
them a full-on snog. It eased and dispersed without inflicting a bloody
Somme on the trails themselves, making for all but perfect riding
conditions under tyre. “The event and course was fantastic:
great organisation and a lot of obvious effort on your part well done,”
wrote Jason McEwen of his first ever Ruthin experience. “The
level of support we received from other riders and the general public
was a real lift during those difficult pushes and it gave the day
that special edge. We really enjoyed the course – after surviving
the agony of the first climb as we had to push up most of it –
and the sense of achievement at the finish line was phenomenal.”
The top course saw roughly 3,000m of climbing, the middle course 2,350m,
the 50km 1,550m, and the Mini Marathon itself saw a not insignificant
1,000m of uplift. None were going to be an easy walk in the park by
any stretch of the imagination, but then nothing good ever comes easy
and the record for Ruthin has been very good since its birth in 2003.
Last year’s event proved not to be the exception as the riding
was again top notch, giving riders the true flavour of mountain biking
in North Wales.
But the Merida’s also rely on the hordes of volunteers and marshals
that do their utmost to keep the riders fuelled and smiling all the
way, something that was not lost on Phil Perret, who wrote in to the
team to express his appreciation: “I couldn't get over how friendly
and encouraging you all were,” he said, “thank you to
the marshals and the feeding crews who stood out on the course for
hours on end as all were very much appreciated. They are such a kind
group. The course was also a delight – hard but rewarding and
I will definitely be back next year. Thank you to all the team. I
am still buzzing!”
Ruthin brought the 2006 series to a highly successful close, with
many riders broadening their own as well as their riding horizons
and, for Karl, Ruthin also broadened his bike quiver as he won the
Merida bike: “This is just to say a big but long overdue thank
you for the bike I was lucky enough to win: just in case I was too
stunned at the time, as I never win anything you see! The minute I
got it home the girlfriend decided it was hers,” he continued,
“so winning it earned me millions of brownie points.”
For 2007, things are about to step up to a whole new level as the
Merida MTB Marathon Series kicks into overdrive. Go to http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/ruthin.php
get to grips with what lies in store for Ruthin itself, as it will
once again round the series out, but this time it will close the biggest
ever Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series of no less than seven events.
Don’t miss it!
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2006 |
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