Cymru MTB Classic: Mountain biking to return to ‘spiritual home’ with 2022 event
Plans for a new three-day mountain biking event staged across the rugged terrain of Gwynedd have been announced.
The Cymru MTB Classic will include a visit to the spiritual home of mountain biking with Coed-y-Brenin having been the UK’s first dedicated mountain bike trail centre.
The event, to be staged from June 17 to 19 in 2022, will feature more than 150km (93 miles) of riding and 3,600m of climbing across three days and three stages.
Steve Beech, course director of the Cymru MTB Classic said: “Dolgellau and Snowdonia have long been the Mecca for UK mountain biking, offering an outstanding variety of terrain and trail, from wild and remote mountain paths, ancient bridleways, old drover roads and farm tracks, to purpose-built, handcrafted single track in the UK’s original trail centre.
“In choosing trails for the Cymru MTB Classic I have kept a focus on highlighting this variety of terrain and trail against the spectacular scenery of this quieter corner of Snowdonia in Gwynedd County.”
Permanent
Organisers, Epic Series, say they have been working closely with Gwynedd Council and the Welsh Government and are hoping to make the Cymru MTV Classic a permanent fixture on the events calendar.
Cllr Gareth Thomas, Cabinet member for the Economy and Community on Gwynedd Council said: “This is the first event of its kind in the UK and will be based in Dolgellau and the surrounding areas, initially over the next three years but we hope for much longer.
“We are extremely pleased how the event organisers have engaged with the local community to gain community support and their emphasis on the Welsh language and culture of the area.”
The Cymru MTB Classic will be open to teams of two with entrance fees starting at £899 per team and registrations opening on August 4th, 2021.
The Welsh event will also be acting as a qualifier for the Absa Cape Epic event which take place later in the year in South Africa.
Coed y Brenin’s Tarw Du (Black Bull) trail is recognised as being the oldest purpose-built mountain bike trail in the UK having opened to the public in 1996.
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Great for those that like mountain biking. But also Cwm Gamlan ( next to Coed Y Brenin is the site of Arthur’s last battle. Our Arthur, not that Disneyfied English dribble.
A Swiss friend detests what these things are doing to the alps.
Other than a few paths, are they that damaging? (Asking not challenging)
But where the Alps are concerned I should imagine that skiing is more damaging than mountain biking. I should imagine a ski resort is to nature in Switzerland as golf resorts and seaside resorts are to nature elsewhere in the world. Without much thought on the topic mountain biking jaunts seem small potatoes in comparison. But I admit I’m ignorant of these concerns so am only speculating.