A dose of Monday Motivation by way of a new, week-long mountain bike stage race encircling northern Wales this coming July. Six days of point-to-point mountain biking, Wales360 links 552km of riding & 12,700m of climbing together sampling some of the best Welsh trails around Snowdonia National Park. Meant to be both an amateur race & a mountain biking getaway, Wales360 slips a timed enduro stage in each day amongst all-day scenic riding and its traveling caravan atmosphere with the 500+ participants sharing a pop-up camp each night…
Wales360, a 6-stage 550km UK mountain bike event
Wales360 aims to bring some of the feel of legendary events like the Cape Epic or BC Bike Race a bit closer to home for Brits & Europeans, taking in the raw, lush & rocky beauty of the heart of Wales. The entire race is being run as an all-inclusive trip. And while the £1310 per person entry sounds steep at first, it looks like you’ll get a lot for that.
Included in the registration fee, you get a hotel stay the night before riding starts, then again the night after you return to Aberystwyth where Wales360 starts & finishes. In between, set off to ride each morning after they feed you, with four feed zones along the way everyday. Race organizers haul your gear to the day’s finish, and a local Welsh dinner including beer & cider awaits at the roving “boutique tented village” where you’ll spend each night, with power in every tent to recharge you GPS, phone & power banks while you sleep. There will even be equipment to dry gear that gets soaked along the way between many creek crossings & whatever the weather dishes out.
Wales360 track – 552km long with 12,700m of elevation
While the full distance itself isn’t a race, timed enduro segments will give you a chance to satiate your competitive side. And the chance to win prizes & bragging rights along the way. The event has categories for both solo rider and two-person teams, and expects most riders will end up riding in groups staggered out along each long day on the bike.
Trails itself vary widely over the long distance taking in “a mix of bridleways, byways and forest land fire roads & singletrack”. It even hits some man-made Coed y Brenin & Elan trail centre tracks too to keep it interesting. If you haven’t already watched that video, go back and get a taste from the tracks of stages 2 & 3.
The event runs from July 22-27 tracing a clockwise loop over its course, making it the only point-to-point off-road event of its kind in the UK. Registration and more information are available from the Wales360.com website, with a registration deadline set for April 30.
