Gore Bike Wear TransWales
Day Seven: ‘The End of Days’
Matt Skinner/Transwales. Photos Jon Brooke / 22.08.2011
Cilycwm to Builth Wells
Total distance: 60km
Climbing: 1600m</b>
The final day of the GORE BIKE WEAR TransWales, powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport would bring the riders home and full circle after seven days and 536km (333 miles) and 15,260m (1,758,530ft) of climbing.
It’s been a tough cookie for sure, but the battle weary riders knew that this would be the final push, the one that would see them complete an epic challenge. But then there was the sting the tail: the final – and deciding – special stage. For some, the last chance to haul their way up the rankings; for others, the final gurn-inducing effort before a well earned cold beer, or three. But for all, the satisfaction of meeting the challenges of the TransWales head-on.
The final linking stage was a relatively sedate affair, which struck out from Cilycwm and made its way into the Irfon Forest trails that lie to the west of Llanwrytd Wells. After convulsing around and up and down the contours for the final flurry of wild biking fun, the route then hit the black top for the run in to Builth Wells to ease the riders’ legs home before the final sprint special stage.
With the overall classification in many of the categories still very much up for grabs, this was the chance for the underdogs to fight back and cause an upset at the final hurdle. For Paul Whittaker (Stockport Clarion CC) in the Saris Racks Veteran Solo Male category, who before the special stage was just 1sec behind the overall leader, Andy Jones (Clee Cycles KCNC), this is exactly what he did. In just 2km – with 85m of climbing – Whittaker more than made up the 1sec deficit.
Indeed, he as good as twisted the knife by not only winning the final special stage in 6mins 40secs ahead of Jones – who had to settle for third in the end – but by doing it with a 20secs advantage. This meant that Whittaker finished the TransWales as he started it – on top.
In doing so, he secured the crown in one of the most hard-fought veteran races the event has ever seen – a battle that was testament to the competitive spirits, fitness, and bike handling ability of Jones and Whittaker themselves. Andy Roberts (Unattached) took third place in the overall, some 4mins behinds the duelling pair.
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