Abergavenny saw the 4th round of the CRC MTB Marathon Series powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport and the Vitus Road Sportive Series.
With the new destination, the event also saw an exciting change in format, running the MTB Marathon on Saturday and road event in the Sunday.
The weather in the week leading up to the event was perfect in the small, stunning town of Abergavenny, but in true British summer style we had flood warnings on the Friday night before the event. Of course being the CRC MTB marathon series we didn’t let this “dampen” our spirits and the event ground was ready for the arrival of the riders by 4pm on Friday afternoon. The scene was set for what was about to be one of the best MTB Marathons to date. The riders flooded in on the Friday night with the excellent camping facilities were quickly filled up by early evening.
As predicted, with nightfall also came rain. However, to say the ground held up well would be an understatement. Awaking the next morning, spirits were high with people excited to get on their bikes and tackle the best these Welsh trails had to offer. With three distances to select from, the series once again offered a choice of distance to suit both experienced and novice riders alike.
With over 1000 entries over the weekend, proof of this events popularity is shown by the sheer numbers that sign up. To make things better, a far stretch from the flood warnings predicted, the sun came out, shining down on the event village and adding to the atmosphere that was close to the best we have ever had at this series. And with that…they were off, riding the technical, challenging but overall fun trails around Abergavenny. The rain briefly showed its face with two downpours throughout the day, but it was a far cry from the warnings that Wales had been given for this weekend.
With the change in format, we saw a huge number of riders stay after the ride and enjoy coverage of GB’s most successful day in the Olympics for over 100 years on a widescreen television that was set up by the event organisers. With a bar to provide a refreshing beverage after the long ride and later on a band to entertain those in the event gazebo. No amount of rain would have flooded the enthusiasm of those lucky enough to be present.
Vitus Road Sportive
Sunday morning saw a cool, crisp day arrive in the Welsh town and soon after it, the arrival of the riders for the Vitus Road sportive. With an entry of nearly 300 this sportive provides another excellent opportunity to experience some of Wales best climbs and descents. It seemed the rain that was predicted caught up with us slightly on the Sunday. However these guys didn’t let that put them off and from 0830 the riders begin to ride out in waves. The climbs were the talk of the day, with the pain when reaching the top being evened out by the exhilaration of riding some of Wales’s best descents.
Riders came in a bit wet, but all with smiles and individual tales from their ride. It was time for a well deserved sit down, a warm cuppa and a few snacks to replace that must needed energy. The atmosphere was still high in the event tent with the crowds still relaxing from the night before at the finish of the Sportive.
Unfortunately though professional bike thieves hit the event and managed to steel selected bikes. The police which was patrolling the venue and had unmarked officers doing surveillance work managed to catch an individual and some of the bikes have been retrieved. The Investigation is still on-going.
We can only ask everybody to be extra careful when taking your bike to any cycling event and to make sure that it securely stored when not in use.
If you need any help with bike security at the upcoming round in Ruthin then please see us at registration when you sign on.
Images and updates
At this event we had once more 2 photographers out on the course; our regular photographer, Jon Brooke and his colleague. Check out Jon’s website www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk where you can find your photos to view and to buy. We have also have put the finishing times on the sportive and marathon websites.
Next round
The final round of the CRC MTB Marathon Series powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport will take place in Ruthin on the 15-16th September. The event will be the first triple event with the Vitus sportive taking place on Saturday the 15th, followed by the Exposure Lights Big Night Out Night Marathon on the same day and brought to conclusion with the CRC MTB-Marathons on Sunday the 16th. So a pretty packed weekend.
You can find details on the MTB event on the Ruthin event page of the www.mtb-marathon.co.uk website and for the road sportive on the Ruthin event page of the www.roadsportives.co.uk website.
To enter the event please kick here for the MTB events and here for the road events. Simple!
Our next event
We are now heading into Ritchey TrailMasters mode as the event is only a week and a bit away (17-19th August in Llanwrtyd Wells). If you enjoyed the perfect mix of riding, camping, live music and atmosphere we had an the Abergavenny round then the Ritchey TrailMasters powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport could be perfect for you.
You can still enter now or you could even turn up on the day and join the fun. To enter and for all the event info please go to our event website www.trailmasters.cc. And don’t forget there is the full three day version but also the one day version (Saturday) available.
We are going to be at the Crickhowell Showground (nearest postcode is NP8 1TH) this weekend (4-5th August).
The site is just a couple of miles outside Abergavenny alongside the A40 – so very easy to get to.
We will be using area B and C.
The site will be open for early arrivals from early afternoon onwards.
We are still taking entries – either via the online entry (MTB or ROAD) or at the event (there is a £5 surcharge for that).
See you at the weekend.
July 31, 2012
What a weekend of cycling we have had. An unpredicted mix of high expectation, excitement, frustration yet glory in the end.
The scenes that filled out television screens on Saturday and Sunday certainly made us throw our legs over the top tube of our bike and if you feel the same than fear not as help is just around the corner.
We have another packed cycle weekend lined up for you and this time we are heading to Cwrt-y-Gollen near Abergavenny and Crickhowell. Over the weekend we have three MTB marathons to choose from on the Saturday (4th August) followed by two road sportives on the Sunday (5th August).
Course designer John Lloyd has been out in the hills and roads around Abergavenny and Crickhowell over the weekend and made a few last minute adjustments to some of the courses.
So here the finale profiles for the weekend.
Middle MTB Marathon (4th August 2012 – start 10am)
Length (approx.): 80km Amount of climbing (approx.): 2500m
Feed stations at 20, 38 and 60km
Half MTB Marathon (4th August 2012 – start 10am)
Length (approx.): 50km Amount of climbing (approx.): 1600m
Feed stations at 20 and 38km
Mini MTB Marathon (4th August 2012 – start 10am)
Length (approx.): 30km Amount of climbing (approx.): 900m
Feed stations at 20 and 24km
Classic (Long) Road Sportive (5th August 2012 – open start 8.30 – 9.30am)
Length (approx.): 90miles Amount of climbing (approx.): 2500m
Feed stations at 30 and 60mile
Standard (Short) Road Sportive (5th August 2012 – open start 8.30 – 9.30am)
Length (approx.): 55miles Amount of climbing (approx.): 1450m
Feed station at 30mile
Location
The location of the Abergavenny/Crickhowell round of the CRC MTB Marathon Series powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport and the VITUS Road Sportive powered by CycleOps power is Cwrt-y-Gollen (nearest postcode is NP8 1TH). We will have the venue signposted from Friday lunchtime onwards.
Timetable
The start for the MTB Marathons will be at 10am on Saturday the 4th August, while the road sportive will start from 8.30 – 9.30am on Sunday the 5th August.
Registration times are as followed:
- Friday 3rd August 2012: 6 – 9pm
- Saturday 4th August 2012: 7 – 9.30am and then again from 5-8pm
- Sunday 5th August 2012: 7 – 9.30am
The pasta party will be on Friday evening at around 6pm.
Further details
You can find further details of the VITUS sportive on www.roadsportives.co.uk and the Abergavenny event page. For further details on the CRC MTB Marathons please go to www.mtb-marathon.co.uk or to the Abergavenny event page.
Live band and bar
We will have a live band with us on Saturday after the MTB marathon – Chris Summerill & The Hurricanes – which will bring the MTB day to a nicely rounded finale. We will also have a bar on site in case anybody wants to enjoy a well deserved post marathon drink while listening to the band.
Entries
The postal and online entry and still open for business. If you enter by post please make sure that your entry arrives no later than Thursday (2nd August). The online entry will stay open. If you enter before Friday lunchtime your entry will be on the start sheet. If you enter after that we will have to download your entry when you arrive. Either way is fine. If you decide to enter at the event please expect a £5 surcharge. So best be quick and enter before you make your way to Abergavenny!
FaceBook updates
If there are any further updates or new then we ill put them up on our MTB-Marathon facebook page. So make sure you check that once or twice before you come over to the event.
Ritchey TrailMasters powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport (17-19th August 2012)
Once the Abergavenny round comes to an end all our attention will be focused on the upcoming Ritchey TrailMasters. If you had a good time in Abergavenny and enjoyed a long day in the saddle with some live music and a drink after your ride then why not check out the TrailMasters 2012. You will have some great rides, some challenging racing (if you want to) and some great ‘off the bike’ time as well. Entries are still available at www.trailmasters.cc
July 23, 2012
The sun is shining, summer is finally here and after a fantastic cycling weekend which has its firm place in British cycling history with Bradley Wiggins being the first British winner of the Tour de France it is time to look at the next round of the round of the of the CRC MTB Marathon Series powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport and the VITUS Road Sportive powered by CycleOps power. After only a little till off, the next destination on our UK marathon/sportive tour will be Abergavenny on the 4-5th August 2012.
Contrary to our other events the round near Abergavenny will be run the other way round with the 1stevent of the weekend being the MTB-Marathon on Saturday (4th August) followed by the Road sportive on Sunday (5th August).
Registration times:
The registration will be open on Friday from 6pm to 9pm and will re-open on Saturday morning at 7am. It will stay open till 9.30am with the start of the MTB-marathon being at 10am. Please make sure you arrive with plenty of time to spare as it will be very hectic in particular on Saturday morning just before the start.
The registration for the road sportive will open at 5pm on Saturday and will stay open till 8pm. It will re-open on Sunday morning and will stay open till the end of the open start window at 9.30am. Sportive riders can start at any time between 8.30am – 9.30am on Sunday morning.
If you are arriving outside the registration opening times – don’t worry – just park in the designated areas or pitch up your tent in the camping area and enjoy the event till the registration opens.
Pasta party / bar on site and live music:
The pasta party (which is part of the MTB-marathon ticket) will be held on Friday evening. So if you want to do some carbo loading make sure you get there early evening Friday – sign on and get your Pasta ticket voucher.
We will also have a bar on site which will be open on Friday and Saturday evening. Make sure you bring cash though as there is no cash machine at the event.
And to round up our evening entertainment we will have a live band on site on Saturday night which will kick off their set once the marathon has come to an end.
New caterer for the series:
For the rest of the 2012 series as well as for the upcoming Ritchey TrailMasters (www.trailmasters.cc) event we have paired up with Ian from the Drop-Off Bus. Ian used to run the much loved Drop-Off café in Glyncorrwyg and is now running the mobile version of his café at cycling events around the country. He will be supplying the pasta party as well as being on site throughout the weekend to look after the riders.
Location for the 4th round:
The next round is located near Abergavenny at the Cwrt-y-Gollan British Army training base which is not far away from Crickhowell and just north of the A40 and the River Usk. The venue offers plenty of hard standing and fantastic excess roads. The venue will be signposted from Friday lunchtime onwards.
Entry open now:
Entry for the 4th round is open via the CRC website or via our own website (www.mtb-marathon.co.uk). Simply hop onto our entry pages (MTB and weekend tickets / Road tickets) and either use the online entry or the downloadable entry form. Don’t forget that there is a special discount for the weekend ticket which entitles the rider to take part in the MTB marathon as well as the road sportive. There will be entries available at the event but there is a £5 surcharge for that. So better enter now and save yourself some money.
Ride profiles for the 4th round:
The Abergavenny round will be another double event but this time we are breaking the habit and we are running the MTB Marathon on Saturday followed by Road sportive on Sunday. Similar to the Marshbrook round we will have three mountain bike courses and two road sportive on offer. You can find details on the MTB marathons on the Abergavenny event page while details of the Abergavenny VITUS road sportives can be found here.
Middle MTB Marathon (4th August 2012 – start 10am)
Length (approx.): 78km Amount of climbing (approx.): 2500m
Half MTB Marathon (4th August 2012 – start 10am)
Length (approx.): 50km Amount of climbing (approx.): 1600m
Mini MTB Marathon (4th August 2012 – start 10am)
Length (approx.): 30km Amount of climbing (approx.): 900m
Classic (Long) Road Sportive (5th August 2012 – open start 8.30 – 9.30am)
Length (approx.): 90miles Amount of climbing (approx.): 2500m
Standard (Short) Road Sportive (5th August 2012 – open start 8.30 – 9.30am)
Length (approx.): 55miles Amount of climbing (approx.): 1450m
Ritchey TrailMasters powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport
And don’t forget the Ritchey TrailMasters powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport being only four weeks away. On the 17-18-19th August we will be in Llanwrtyd Wells awaiting the riders with more than 200km of 1st class trails, a fantastic ‘off the bike programme’ and some great food and drink. Come and join us and get your entry now on www.trailmasters.cc.
July 18, 2012
Last weekend the 3rd round of the CRC MTB Marathon Series powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport took us to Marshbrook in Shropshire. A few miles south of Shrewsbury and with ample of hills around it, things were looking promising for the summer round of the series. Similar to the last round in Selkirk, the Marshbrook round was another road and MTB affaire with the VITUS Road Sportive starting things off on Saturday and the MTB Marathon following on Sunday morning. But the Marshbrook round did not just impress with fantastic riding, almost great weather and the MTB-Marathon Series typical setup but also with the extra addition of a super cosy pub with great food, lovely beer and some great live music…all just on the edge of the event venue!
VITUS Sportive powered by CycleOps Power – the English round
The Saturday of the event weekend featured the 2nd round of the CycleOps Power road sportive which had two demanding courses on offer which not just showed off the most scenic corners of the area but also sent the riders up 20% inclines taking them to the very top of the famous Long Mynd. Riders who judged the courses purely on the distance and amount of climbing were surprised by the toughness of the terrain due to having hardly any flat sections in the two courses. An experience they would share with the mountain bikers who would hit the trails on Sunday.
The first rider conquering the approx. 1,700m of climbing of the short course was back in the event village after 2h 52min while the last rider finishing the 85mile long 2,800m of climbing long course came over the finish line in a time of 6hours and 48mins. The riders were welcomed back with coffee, tea and cake as well as with their finish T-shirt and gold/silver/bronze certificate.
The next round will take us the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains – to Abergavenny – which is the new location addition for 2013. For all the event details of the 3rd road sportive please go to the Abergavenny (Please note the Sportive will be run on SUNDAY the 5th August) event page on the VITUS Sportive website.
An almost perfect day for a mountain bike ride!
Last year’s introduction to the series went down a storm with lots of riders rating the Marshbrook course as one of the best of the series. This year set out to impress the riders once more with the challenging and varied course around the Long Mynd.
Course designer John Lloyd created three demanding courses which had everything a marathon should have thrown into the mix – long climbs, fantastic single track, breathtaking views and some proper technical challenges. In particular the Minton Batch, the trails around Eastridge and the fantastic views from the top of the Long Mynd will stay in people’s minds for a long time.
Spoiled by sunshine and nearly perfect riding temperatures almost 1000 riders took up the challenge and with the feedback we had so far the Long Mynd course has secured its place in next years line-up once again.
Due the rather harsh weather conditions leading up to the event and the challenging terrain the recorded times were slightly slower than in 2011 with the 1st rider of the short course coming over the line after 1hour 43min in the saddle. From there onwards there was a constant flow down the finish shoot. After conquering the last few meters of trail the riders received their event T-shirt and a warm welcome of the crowd. The flow of riders would carry on till the last rider crossed the line to complete the long course in a time of 8hours and 34mins.
Next sportive and marathon – Abergavenny on the 4-5th August 2012
The next round of Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon Series 2012 powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport will take us to the new event in 2012 – Abergavenny. The Abergavenny round is another double event. With 2 fantastic sportive routes to choose from at the VITUS Sportive run on the Sunday of the event weekend (5th August 2012) as well as 3 classic MTB marathon courses run on Saturday the 4th August. Please note that the order of events is the ‘other way round’ in Abergavenny.
To find out more about the Abergavenny round please go to the event page. For further details on the 3rd VITUS Road Sportive please click here. We have also put the profiles of the Abergavenny courses up in the news section of the marathon website.
Photos and website updates
At this event we had once more 2 photographers out on the course; our regular photographer, Jon Brooke and his colleague. Check out Jon’s website www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk where you can find your photos to view and to buy. We have also have put the finishing times on the sportive and marathon websites.
Enter now!
If you are up for some fantastic riding (road or MTB) over and around the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains then make sure you get your entry in quickly. To enter sijmply go to the MTB Marathon entry page here (you can enter the weekend ticket which covers the mtb marathon & the sportive only here) and the Road Sportives here.
Ritchey TrailMasters powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport
It is only 4 weeks before the Ritchey TrailMasters (17-19th of August 2012) will be opening its doors. If you are starting to find your riding legs and enjoy our marathon events why not join the TrailMasters where you can experience some of the best trails Wales has to offer.
The entry is open for the three day event as well as the Saturday (18th) only event.
To find out more about this new 3 day mountain bike stage race and its unique concept please go to www.trailmasters.cc.
July 12, 2012
John has been up in Marshbrook for the last few days and things are looking quite good up there.
To make sure that you are up to date with the latest ‘stories’ from the front line, make sure you check out Facebook page.
We are running two Facebook pages but both of them will get updated with the same details.
So check www.facebook.com/crcmarathonseries or www.facebook.com/ChainReactionCyclesMTBMarathonSeries to stay informed.
See you in Marshbrook!
The final round of the series was our first ever triple event with the VITUS Road Sportive powered by CycleOps Power opening the proceedings on Saturday morning. Almost 200 sportive riders took up the challenge and enjoyed the sunny condition around the Clwydian Range. The 90mile course with its very undulating 2000m of climbing (finishing things off with the famous Horse Shoe Pass) certainly tested the sportive enthusiasts.
Following the road activities will the Exposure Lights Big Night out Night Marathon. Introduced to the series more than half a decade ago the ELBNO tests the riders over a 40km long off road route which will pretty much ridden entirely in the dark. So strong legs but equally strong bike lights are a must.
