The first event in the Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon Series 2010 powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport takes place on the weekend of 10-11 April, and course details have now been revealed.
Kicking off with the 45km Exposure Lights Big Night Out night marathon on 10 April, the race starts from the Royal Welsh Showground with a 7km warm-up on the road before the first big climb of the night taking you across moorland singletrack.
After a descent off Llanbedr Hill, the second big climb takes you across Aberedw Hill to Forest Fields, providing lots of technical singletrack through the woods, with just a few kilometres back on the road to Builth.
In the marathon proper, there’ll be a 28km-long Mini Marathon – ideal for beginners and families – a 51km half marathon or the 70km long-distance event. Riders will head east out of Builth Wells to Hundred House, skirting Aberedw Hill and then up onto the stunning Gwaunceste Hill, past Giant’s Grave on open moorland with lots of undulating dual and singletrack.
From here the route crosses Llandeilo and the Llanbedr Hills with lots of fast flowing single- and twin-tracks, leading to a fantastic descent from Twm Tobacco’s grave down to the River Edw. The final climb of the day crosses Aberedw Hill into a technical wooded section through Forest Fields and back to Builth Wells.
The event is based at the Royal Welsh Showground which has lots of hard standing, good access roads and facilities, and is only a short walk from the centre of Builth. For more details and to enter, go to the Marathon Series website.
