Details of the 2011 Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon Series powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport have been released, with new courses in England and Wales added to the series for its 12th season.
The series will again take place across five weekends throughout the British spring and summer. The series will commence at Builth Wells, Wales (9-11 April) and close at Ruthin, Wales (17-18 September). Both of these events will include the Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon, as well as the series' unique night-time marathon, the Exposure Lights Big Night Out (ELBNO).
Organisers have confirmed that the ELBNO marathons will be run over a different course to the day-time marathon, so as to ensure variety for those riders wishing to take part in both events. The night time descents will take place on the Saturday night of each weekend, with the main, day-time marathon to take place on the Sunday across the series.
New courses for 2011 include the second round at Llandovery, Wales (21-22 May) and the third at Marshbrook, England (2-3 July). These events will see their respective marathons complimented by the CycleOps Power Road Sportive series. The fourth round of the series at Selkirk, Scotland (July 23-24) will also host a third round of the Sportive series. The road events will take place on Saturday.
Each Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon will offer four single-loop course distances. The routes will range from 25 to 100 kilometres, with the ELBNO marathons offering between 40 and 50 kilometres of riding to competitors. The road sportives will range from 65 to 160 kilometres.
The marathon and ELBNO events will each cost £32 to enter, while the mini-marathon option (25-30 kilometres) will be £27, or £22 for riders under 16 years of age. For road riders, the sportives will cost £27. All entry fees include the ride, free camping and parking, finisher present, service stations (food and technical support) around the course and bike wash facilities.
Registration for the series has opened, with Chain Reaction Cycles offering a 5% discount on products to riders who enter via their online entry system.
The full list of events and venues is:
- Round 1 - 9-11 April: Builth Wells, Wales (Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon & Exposure Light Big Night Out)
- Round 2 - 21-22 May: Llandovery, Wales (Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon & CycleOps Power Road Sportive)
- Round 3 - 2-3 July: Marshbrook, England (Shropshire) (Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon & CycleOps Power Road Sportive)
- Round 4 - 23-24 July: Selkirk, Scotland (Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon & CycleOps Power Road Sportive)
- Round 5 - 17-18 September: Ruthin, Wales (Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon & Exposure Light Big Night Out)
Registration for all of the events can be carried out via the series entry page or online at the Chain Reaction website. For more information about the events visit the marathon series website or the road sportive website..