618 kilometres, 14,000+ metres of climbing, 23 riders, and one massive adventure.
The inaugural Blaenau 600 drew to a close last week over pizza and tales from the trail, after four days of brutal and beautiful riding through the Welsh countryside.
Photos Credits: Sadie Aldridge & Dan Sparrow
The idea to run an event of this scale, through some of the most stunning scenery Wales has to offer, passing through the remote Welsh desert, traversing multiple mountain ranges, and rolling over a true cross section of ‘mixed terrain’ surfaces, first popped into our minds a couple of years ago.
Then, in 2022, after months of route planning, preparation, recon riding, and putting together an event unlike any we had done before, the big day was finally here.
In a brilliant blur of dot watching, the riders completed the 600km challenge and we began to process what each of them had just achieved.
It’s good to start these things with the thank yous, as without the incredible people in this community things like this would never happen!
First off to the volunteers and helpers who chipped in along the way, we appreciate every one of you for helping make this adventure what it was! And to the riders, the people really do make the place, and that has never been more evident than it was here. Supportive, friendly, fun, positive, you made this journey everything we hoped it would be and more.
As with any ultra-endurance event, each rider has a unique story to tell. Although covering the same kilometres as one another, it’s amazing how varied the experiences are. It would be impossible for us to tell them all here, mostly because they will live in the minds of the riders more vividly than we could ever articulate.
So, instead, here’s a very brief overview of the ride from the perspective of those of us watching along at home.
The ride split into a ‘race’ (for lack of a better word) for positions and fastest times at the front end, with 7 riders deciding to tackle the route in this way, and spread out along the trails behind were others covering the distance in whatever way they chose, from fun with friends, to the huge personal challenge of making it back to Ludlow in time for the pizza party.
With a ride this difficult, reaching the finish line with a smile on your face is an achievement in itself, no matter what it took to get there.
As is sadly the case with these events, there are always some DNFs along the way. Bad luck befalls us all from time to time, and when attempting something as brutal as an ultra there are unfortunately always riders who are forced to scratch for one reason or another.
As a result, at the head of the pack, only four riders (Molly, Jac, Andrew and Ross) remained in the battle for places as we began day two. It was exciting to watch them all put in rides that eclipsed what we had thought was possible over such savage terrain.
With Jac, Andrew and Molly opting not to sleep, and in Ross’ case to grab only an hour or so a night laying on top of his bivvy to ensure minimal time was lost, it made for 48 hours of uninterrupted forward movement among this group.
From the start Jac was setting an unbeatable pace, only pausing for minutes in the entire first 24 hours of pedalling, and this continued through the second day, night, and into the early hours of the morning. Finishing at 4am on Monday, half a torn space blanket wrapped around each leg for warmth, Jac made his way up the final climb to finish in first place in a time of 44 hrs 17 mins.
Having now heard his tales of a broken cleat, drained phone and GPS batteries, dehydration, a severe lack of layers, and major sleep deprivation, he certainly worked for the result!
The remaining podium spots were up for grabs for the duration, and the trio of riders had been bunnyhopping each other throughout day one and into the first night, which made for some exciting dot watching.
Despite different pacing strategies, bikes, refuel approaches, and the expected ups and downs that occur out there in the wilderness, the gaps remained small as they rode into the second day.
Hiking and biking over the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains through sunset on Sunday night, it was here that it looked as though the positions were secured. But it’s not over until it’s over.
Tentatively close to home, Andrew and Molly were only separated by a few kilometres when Andrew suffered a multiple GPS (and phone) failure which led to him unfortunately having to scratch. Blissfully unaware of this fact, and pushing on to the line, Molly made it home to finish second in a time of 47 hrs 24 mins.
Rounding off the podium was Ross in a time of 52 hrs 33 mins, completing his first multi-day gravel event and managing his Type 1 diabetes out on the trails.
The stories from the riders finishing over the next hours and days were as varied and brilliant as those that had pedalled their way home already.
The mental battle in an event like this is often as difficult as the physical one, and deciding to push on when the option of stopping presents itself is always an admirable one.
This was evident to everyone when Leon decided to stop riding, then continue riding, then cut back on the 480km route, and then ultimately stick with the 600km epic and finish in style. He even caught up to one of his original ride buddies, Jon, and they made their way to the end together. There were only one or two mountains standing in their way!
Consistency is key, and that was illustrated beautifully by the final rider to roll up to the party. Timing it to perfection to be handed a slice of pizza and a beer just as he stepped off his bike, Matt had a plan to tick off 150kms a day and he stuck to it.
To all of the other finishers; Rob who took it steady throughout the first day and night before absolutely smashing it through the remaining checkpoints and flying home, Phil who completed the ride after gastro problems lead to no food for 24hours, the trio of David, Simon and Steve who smiled their way round the entire route (if we are to believe the photos) and scouted some prime sleeping locations along the way, Ailish and Sarah who teamed up at checkpoint two and rode the equally stunning 480 kilometre route, brothers Max and Joe who stuck together through thick and thin, and Barry who put in a monumental solo effort, we hope the ride was everything you thought it would be and more.
So many different journeys all leading to the same place. Beauty and pain hand in hand.
Congratulations to every rider who took part! No matter how it ended, and whether you are left with unfinished business or not, making it to the startline is half the battle.
Let’s do it all again next year, eh?
