There are only three weeks to go before the first ever Merida TransWales stage race will kick off at Builth Wells. The Merida team has been beavering away at an organisational task for which the word "Herculean" barely seems appropriate. But it looks like things are coming together nicely.

The main thing is the course, of which more in a moment. Some of the northern bits of the originally-envisaged course turned out to not be up to much, so the new course does without them and adds some more southerly stuff instead. The length and amount of climbing hasn't changed, though.

The organisers reckon that a short-travel, lightweight full suspension bike is the tool for the job, but if you don't have one of those you might want to consider a comfort-enhancing suspension seatpost. USE is offering Sumo XCR boingy posts to TransWales competitors for a very agreeable £60 - mail info@mtbtransuk.co.uk for more details.

In other news, the new solo category now has a new sponsor in the shape of Bristol bike shop Mud Dock. Mud Dock manager Matt Carr is an experienced endurance lunatic and will be racing as well as handling the prizes and awarding the special Mud Dock solo leader's jersey.

TransWales competitors have their meals included in the entry fee, but with lots of supporters following the event around Wales, there's now a "food only" entry available to allow those following the riders to enjoy the same food. Food only vouchers cost £100 per person and cover breakfast, lunch and dinner for the whole week. Again, drop a line to info@mtbtransuk.co.uk to book.

As well as food, there's a whole lot of other stuff you'll be needing. The organisers have a freshly-updated kit list at www.mtbtransuk.co.uk/requirements.php.

That TransWales course in full

What you really want to know, though, is where you're going. The format is a little like a car rally, combining short, timed "special stages" with long, untimed "link stages". The results will be decided on the special stages, so the trick with the linking stages will be to conserve your energy. The link stages will have a cut-off time, though, so you can't go too slowly. So without further ado, here's what's in store...

Saturday 12 August 2006

White House Farm, Builth Wells

• Registration
• Equipment check
• Event bag handout
• Initial briefing
• Pasta party

Sunday 13 August 2006

First linking stage from Builth Wells to the Trail Centre at Nant-y-Arian

• 85km, 2,600m climbing
• Predicted riding time: 7 hours

Monday 14 August 2006

First special stage at the Trail Centre at Nant-y-Arian

• Relay time trial - the first rider does the first half, the second rider takes over and finishes the loop. The fastest team time counts.
• 16km, 310m climbing

Followed by second linking stage from the Trail Centre at Nant-y-Arian to Machynlleth

• 33km, 800m climbing
• Predicted riding time: 3 hours

Tuesday 15 August 2006

Third linking stage from Machynlleth to the Trail Centre at Coed-y-Brenin

• 72km, 2,300m climbing
• Predicted riding time: 6 hours

Followed by second special stage at the Trail Centre at Coed-y-Brenin

• Night team time trial - both team riders start together and both have to finish the complete course. Both riders' times will be added together to give the team time. The fastest time counts.
• 10km, 280m climbing

Wednesday 16 August 2006

Fourth linking stage from the Trail Centre at Coed-y-Brenin to Cli-machx trail (Machynlleth)

• 75km, 3,000m climbing
• Predicted riding time: 7 hours

Thursday 17 August 2006

Third special stage on the Cli-machx trail

• Relay time trial - first rider does the first half, the second rider takes over and finishes the loop. The fastest team time counts
• 15km, 340m climbing

Followed by fifth linking stage from the Cli-machx trail to Llanafan

• 65km, 1,900m climbing
• Predicted riding time: 5.5 hours

Friday 18 August 2006

Sixth stage from Llanafan to Rhandirnwyn

• 90km, 2,800m climbing
• Predicted riding time: 7.5hours

Followed by fourth special stage on the Cwm-y-Rhayader trail

• Option 1: only one rider has to ride to get a stage time, both riders can ride individually and fastest time counts.
• Option 2: relay time trial - first rider does the first half (to the top and steep short cut to hand over), the second rider takes over and finishes the loop. The fastest team time counts.
• 7km, 260m climbing
• Metres of climbing: 260m

Saturday 19 August 2006

Seventh and final linking stage from Rhandirnwyn back to the White House Farm in Builth Wells

• 75km, 2,500m
• Predicted riding time: 6 hours

Finisher Party, final prize presentation, well deserved rest!

All that lot adds up to 543km (338miles) and 15,990m (52,460feet) of climbing, assuming that you do all the special stages. If you opted out of all of them it'd save you about 50km and 1,000m of climbing, but were would be the fun in that?

While this is the plan at the moment, the exact details are subject to change. Keep an eye on www.mtbtransuk.co.uk/stages.php for further updates.

You've got to be pretty tempted by that little lot. And the good news is that there are still last minute solo and team entries available. Book a week off work and come and do it, it's going to be great - download an entry form from the event website, fill it in and send it to the address on the form. And we'll see you at Builth Wells...