Enduro Stage Preview

Enduro Format

Means you are only timed on specific sections of the route. You obviously have to run the entire course but can allow yourself to go easier & chat with your mates between the timed stages then go full-on for each stage. Think 10 mini-races with a lush warm-up on each.

For the stages think Strava ‘Segment’ – none are too long and they are sized to even out the time spread i.e. shorter uphill stages, longer downhill stages.

Course Preview

Transfer 1: Warm-up jog up and around fire track.

Stage 1: Full Gas – Straight up from end of fire track on steep path. 434m @ 18% average. KOM 2:35 (Lawrence Eccles 2024), QOM 3:30 (Jo Henderson 2022).

https://www.strava.com/segments/36685497

Transfer 2: Up main summit track (Scouse Road) for just under 1km.

Stage 2: Gods & Gain – (The Queen Stage) – Glorious trod through the heather traversing the south west bowl of Moel Famau before plunging down path, grass tufts, bog and finally the fast grassy trod of the Nant Gain. Slightly shortened from 2024 – NOW FINISHES at first LARGE TREE/wall line NOT the bottom! 1.59km @ -10% average. KOM 7:41 (Lawrence Eccles 2024). QOM 12:25 (Katy Baugh 2024)

https://www.strava.com/segments/37278988

Transfer 3: Climb directly up (steep) hill on faint sheep trod. When gradient starts to ease of look out for trail that you hit – you are turning right and straight into stage when you get there:

Stage 3: Moel Dywyll Traverse – head north up path from where wall line crosses. Towards the bottom keep left as you cross wall line. Finish on track opposite tree. 816m @ -5%. KOM – 2:49 (Adam Ryder 2020). QOM – 3:45 (Susan Fourie 2022).

https://www.strava.com/segments/39056666

Transfer 4: Head up the Pen Line gate on col. Turn left and follow path along fence line to summit of Moel Dywyll:

Stage 4: Dark Blast – Straight down by fence to join main path on at the corner – down the dip and head right along grassy track (Clwydian Hills route). 590m @ -9%. KOM – 2:25 (Lawrence Eccles 2020). QOM – 3:51 (Kathy Frankland 2012).

https://www.strava.com/segments/39056676

Transfer 5: Head up the grassy track and head off south-east descending into the Nant y Ne to bottom of:

Stage 5: The Gully – Extended since 2024. Full on steep scramble up Stony Gully then onwards to main track. 370m @ 28% average. KOM 4:51 (Tom Wood 2019), QOM 6:35 (Jayne Joy 2014).

https://www.strava.com/segments/39056686

Transfer 6: Back down the main track for few hundred meters.

Stage 6: Moel y Gaer – Start 5-10m right of bench on track. Almost hidden start but then obvious trod develops. Superb singletrack leads down to the old hill fort – fast, narrow with technical sections throughout – 2025 FINISHES in dip on col . 910m @ -15%. KOM 3:08 (Joel Gomes 2023). QOM 3:48 (Katy Baugh 2023).

https://www.strava.com/segments/38907057

Transfer 7: Short jog up to summit cairn of Moel y Gaer.

Stage 7: Gaer’s Nose – From cairn head south west heading for wide spur where you pickup a defined trod (ascent path on Hotfoot on Famau). 500m @ -23%. KOM 2:27 (Joel Gomes 2023), QOM 3:09 (Emily Retallick 2023).

https://www.strava.com/segments/34768325

Transfer 8: Slog back up the grassy spur towards Bwlch Penbarras

Stage 8: Buteo Buteo – Start from large boulder in bracken. Head over the spur onto a descending traverse trod. Narrow, technical in places – gorse – suck it up snowflakes – you have 8 pints. Straight down the steep bank (Little House on the Praire-style) and finish at the stream crossing on the track in the dip. 678m @ -12%. KOM 3:07 (Michael Corrales 2019), QOM 4:02 (Sarah Kleeman 2019).

https://www.strava.com/segments/38907129

Transfer 9: Head along the track – thro’ the metalled gate, across the road and onto the footpath that takes you up behind Moel Fenlli. Keep going – steady angled but never ending until you come to the second kink (not the obvious first one) under steep shallow gully line with an obvious footpath post 50yds up it (don’t ask):

Stage 9: The Sting – Straight up gully – sorry not sorry. 205m @ 40%! KOM – 3:17 (Sam Bentham 2025). QOM – 4:10 (Millie Jebb 2023).

https://www.strava.com/segments/22466021

Transfer 10: Head over the trod towards the spring and onwards onto north side of the earthwork ramp:

Stage 10: No Brakes – Disengage brain. Straight off earthwork and down shallow gully to finish by small ponds by southern car park. 271m @ -21%. KOM – TBC. QOM – TBC. Strava not playing here – I will try and manually time you on the day!