Race Report | Welsh Enduro Series Round 4, Dyfi
After the Indian summer checked out abruptly, a Welsh winter moved in swiftly at the weekend to coincide with the finale of the Welsh Enduro Series in the dramatic Dyfi Valley. The one day event allows for practice Sunday morning, followed by timed racing in the afternoon, which in total equates to a 38.5k (24 miles) day with 1,400 meters of ascent. Throw in a pre-race practice lap on the Saturday as well and you are clocking 58k (36 miles) and 2,100 meters of ascent.
Sounds simple but factor in the long sprints, speed sapping mud, legions of conspiring greasy roots, snow and some of the steepest, technical trail the series has seen all year and you start to get the picture.
The riders comprised of everyone from the usual hardened faces of the UK enduro race scene, to complete racing beginners. The vast majority of these riders truly embraced the ‘Enduro Spirit’. However, several lads ran their own uplifts at the venue, on the previous day to racing; a partaking that has seen athletes quite rightly stripped of their stripes!
Stage 1
The long grind up from the car park had some riders pushing their bikes up the hill before the race had even started. The stage itself offered no respite as the gentle gradient of the undulating trail meant competitive times could only be achieved by stomping hard on pedals and pumping the living daylights out of any downward feature the trail sparsely gifted.
Stage 2
The climb up to the start of stage two drained the resources like a second dependent wife (or husband). However, the steep rocky descent that beckoned immediately after the start gate was a welcome sight, giving way into a shale gully, off camber rooted ruts and multiple line choices between the trees to avoid the mud traps, which had appeared in some of the more frequently visited corners. Crossing the fire road at full tilt spat riders out onto a straight rhythm of single track which, if you got the flow right allowed this pace to be carried. Get it wrong and the speed soon disappeared to the song of twanging spokes as rims took a battering. Bewildered riders congregated at the finish, mostly displaying big smiles but some nursing broken bikes.
Stage 3
The climb once again took its toll on the weary and the brilliant Stage 3 cashed in on these weaknesses. A steady start into the forest gave false hope for what was to come, but getting into the groove required some hard leg work and good bike handling amongst the bare roots. Steep sections traversed the side of the hill, while a sharp and rutted left hand corner marked the transition from roots and loam to thick mud; going sideways was mandatory. Holding speed through a series of churned corners meant it was time to get on the gas and sprint through a puddle-infested fire-road. Then it was back down into a steep chute towards the cheering and heckling of finished riders; many of which look like they had taken a slide at some point.
Stage 4
The final climb seemed eternal, but worth it for the section called ‘Climax’ to be used. Usually the words ‘Trail Centre’ conjure up images of crushed blue rock and banked corners, but there was no place for that here; this section has teeth. The physical endurance this stage requires bred lactic acid, which in turn proves to be a catalyst for mistakes. The rock causeways, sudden dips, turns, jumps and drops do their best to test the commitment of every racer digging deep. As the final hill was crested and the rocks retreated to give way to a quick succession of switchbacks, photographers’ flashes, cheers from spectators and riders on the fireroad below unveiled the finish line. The timing chip beeped to mark the end of a spectacular race but also, to another successful season for the Welsh Enduro Series.
For more information you can see the full results here
Words: Tom Makin (Steve Peat Syndicate)
Photos: David Clarke, Jack Reeve, Tom Grice, Mark Wynne
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