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 Climb – New segment
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 II – Slightly altered segment
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 – Shortened from 2025. 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 of the red stuff. Finish at the main ascending path.
Transfer 9: Head up towards Penbarras and up onto Foel Fenlli earthworks.
Stage 9: Ramparts – New segment
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!