The second round of the Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon Series 2010 powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport took place in Builth Wells, Wales over the weekend, where superb trails and excellent weather combined for a two-wheeled treat.
Saturday morning saw the start of the CycleOps Power Road Sportive, with around 200 road riders taking on the 53- or 86-mile courses.
The first finisher on the shorter route crossed the line in 2hr 48min while the last rider rolled back into the event village after more than 8hr 30min. The 86-mile course took the first rider home just under five hours to complete, while the final participant crossed the line after nine hours.
Former World Cup cross-country star Gary Foord and UK racing stalwart Nick Craig led out the mountain bike riders on Sunday morning into the hills and onto the top quality trails, which were fast and dusty.
Feed stations were crowded throughout the day as riders rehydrated and took on vital refreshment in the 25°C heat. The first rider on the 30km mini marathon crossed the line after just 75 minutes, with the last rider on the full 80km route finishing at 7hr 41min. For full results, head to the results page.
Here are the other events in the MTB Marathon Series 2010:
- 3-4 July: Grassington, North Yorkshire (MTB marathon to be run on Sunday)
- 31 July-1 August: Selkirk, Scottish Borders (CycleOps Power Road Sportive to be run on Saturday and MTB Marathon on Sunday)
- 18-19 September: Ruthin, North Wales (ELBNO Night Marathon to be run on Saturday and MTB Marathon on Sunday)
For photos from the event, go to http://www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk or http://www.flickr.com/photos/vitosport/sets/72157624001078431.
