Exhausting it may be, but it's still a lot of fun (pic: Russ Burton)

Last year's Merida TransWales saw a long, exhausting but exhilarating week of riding in some of the toughest conditions that the TransUK events have ever seen. The event also saw seven days of uniquely enthralling mountain biking, where marathon rides in some of Wales' most stunning scenery rubs shoulders with flat-out singletrack duelling in the event's unique special stages.

Riders came from as far afield as South Africa, Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Portugal, the US of A, Ireland and of course the UK to take on 550km (344miles) of riding around Wales with 15,500m (50,840feet) of climbing off-road.

Day One - Builth Wells to Cilycwm, Llandovery

Followed by: Special Stage One - Exposure Lights Maxx night time-trial, Cwmrhaedr

Taking the riders from Builth Wells through to Cilycarn, Llandovery some 67.5km away, the first linking stage tested and warmed up legs and hearts in equal measure; just as well, as the evening saw the racing begin proper with the fast and furious Exposure Lights Maxx night time-trial on the purpose built trail at Cwmrhaedr.

In the end, punctures claimed a fair few riders - including Jean Claude Van Der Veken. “It all went wrong and I got a puncture on the downhill,” he explained afterwards, “I lost three or four minutes riding down on the flat as I didn't take any spares with me which was really foolish. I'm really gutted.” His misfortune helped defending champion, Scotland's Andy Barlow, make serious time as he absolutely blitzed his lap - despite having to make his way through traffic - to finish second behind Builth Wells local, Ryan Bevis.

Day Two - Cilycwm, Llandovery to Brechfa

Followed by: Special Stage Two - Time-trial, Brechfa Forest (Abergorlech Trail)

The weather gods had been teasing the riders; toying with them as a cat does a mouse by allowing them a hint of optimism that the fair weather may hold. On day two, however, there were no such half measures of restraint. The gods unleashed their all with volley after volley of soul draining rains; drowning both the trail and the riders' spirits and turning the 67km linking stage into a non-stop battle of attrition, guts, and reserve.

Day Three- Brechfa to Tregaron

The third day saw the event break into its stride as it took the riders into the dark yet bewitching heart of Wales to deliver all that it had promised. From beautifully wild landscapes, hypnotic singletrack, epic climbs and sweeping descents along quintessential Welsh drovers tracks, the linking stage from Brechfa to Tregaron - some 75km apart - served up a gourmet course of some of the finest Welsh riding going.

Just don't expect to stay dry (pic: Jon Brooke)

Overnight heavy rains dried out around 5am meant the riders awoke in the morning to lighter skies and brighter hopes. A spin along the black top eased tired and aching bodies gradually back into life ahead of entering the trees and the dirt to begin the climb up Esgair Ferchon at 433m. Leaving the trees behind and below the riders began the first true wilderness portion of the event so far: boggy and marshy it sapped energy. But with the tranquillity that only wild places know, it saw riders gritting their teeth and savouring the views whilst they spun it out before being unleashed on downward pointing trail for some hard earned gravity pay off, picked up speed and began galloping headlong over rocky outcrops and techy, invigorating trail.

Day Four - Tregaron to Machynlleth

Taking riders from Tregaron to Machynlleth 79km and 2000m of climbing away, the day's stage also had some bonus prizes in store for the riders: 2200m of descending, including the renowned chute descent off the top and into Machynlleth that was heralded by the riders as one of the best sections of trail of the entire event.

The descent itself is simple: a steep chute with a base of loose shale that drops riders skittering down at speed, on the verge of losing control and stuffed full of endorphins into the awaiting valley. With the end in sight, riders could at last relax and savour the final minutes to journey's end looking out across the Afon Dyfi (River Dovey) valley.

“It was definitely the best day so far,” an elated USE Solo Men's rider Nikalas Cook said after finishing. “It was everything that's great about mountain biking: big climbs; amazing descents; beautiful scenery including an incredible waterfall; and great technical stuff like the chute descent.”

Day Five - Machynlleth to Ponterwyd

Followed by: Climachx Relay time-trial, the Climachx trail, Machynlleth

The Merida Bikes TransWales piled on the drama: with the third special stage on the Climachx trail getting things off to a white-hot start - with leads being swapped in many categories - the event then leapt up the hills and into the wilds once again for a truly adventurous linking stage.

Following the special stage, riders saddled up for the fifth linking stage that saw the Merida Bikes TransWalers turning southbound to Ponterwyd, some 56km and 1800m of climbing distant. Climbing up and back into the wilds around Plynlimon, the route took the riders through the high moorlands towards Nant-y-Moch reservoir. Just short of the scenic reservoir, the riders had to ford the waist deep and strong flowing waters of Afon (river) Hengwm: the strong force of the water meant riders had to tread very carefully, help each other across, and ensure that those struggling were fished out to safety as quickly as possible before saddling up for the final push to the day's end.

A night time special stage to liven things up (pic: Russ Burton)

Day Six

Special Stage Four - Team relay time-trial, Nant-y-Arian

Followed by: Linking Stage Six - Nant-y-Arian to Strate Florida

The penultimate day of the Merida Bikes TransWales saw the sun creep out from its wet slumber in time to turn the heat up for the final special stage. This was the decider that would seal the overall results.

But the event wasn't all about the racing: due its unique format of non-competitive linking stages together with rally style special stages, it also attracts riders looking for a challenge and truly memorable weeks mountain biking. One such pair was What Mountain Bike magazine's Merida Bikes TransWales competition winners: Gareth Taylor and Lewis Collins.

“It was sunny. It was warm. And there were some great natural descents - very steep and rocky, very technical with loose sections and extremely fast,” said Gareth on finishing the day's stage. “I'm loving it,” he continued, “I've had a fantastic time and am absolutely loving it. I had a sense of humour failure on the first two days but I've recovered now: I've met some really nice people and it's been really inspiring.”

Day Seven - Strata Florida to Builth Wells

The final linking stage took riders from beautiful Strata Florida with its ancient abbey back home to Builth Wells, some 84km and 2500m of climbing away.

Taking the riders through Tyw Forest the route revisited sections of trail much loved by 2006 TransWales riders, including the fine technical singletrack descent along the side of the Afon Doethie and down to the Llyn Brianne reservoir, snaking along the contours of the scenic valley and hammering full bore downwards over some of the finest flow riding on the entire event.

“This was certainly the toughest Trans event I've done ever, ever, ever,” said Trek 69er Collective singelspeed rider Matt Carr during the BikeRadar.com finishing party. The toughness of the event wasn't missed on the organisers, Mike Wilkens and John Lloyd, either. “I think the conditions made this an even bigger challenge than it would be anyway,” said Mike. “It was certainly the toughest Trans event we've ever done but the fact that the riders are still here after a week of going through some big ups and downs really impressed me like no tomorrow. It was a challenging week but it continued the spirit of the event - of people helping each other out and mucking in together.”

In total, the massed field of international riders had completed 550km (344miles) of riding with 15,500m (50,840feet) of climbing off-road around the heart of Wales in just seven days. For some, the spoils of victory. For others, the consolation of a cold beer. But for all, great memories and new friendships formed to last a lifetime.

To read the full daily reports from last year's Merida Bikes TransWales log onto www.mtbtransuk.co.uk