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 team 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.
I expect there could be a tactical element in team selection – with only 3 times counting per stage from 4 runners you can afford an uphill & downhill specialist in there if you choose. Also how steady do you go? If you red line on the early stages you could well run out of beans by the time you are heading for home. Or do you just run the lot and just have a laugh with your mates.
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 2:46 (Tom Duran 2016), QOM 3:30 (Jo Henderson 2022).
Transfer 2: Up main summit (Scouse Road) for just under 1km.
Stage 2: Traverse of the Gods – Glorious trod through the heather traversing the south west bowl of Moel Famau. 630m @ -7%. KOM 3:25 (Simo Caps during Sheeptracks 2019 Recce!) QOM 4:47 (Amanda Boyd-Edwards 2019 Sheeptracks)
Transfer 3: A (very) short stones-throw to the gate. 30m.
Stage 3: Nant Gain – Glorious mixed descent. Initial techy & lumpy into a fast grassy gradual descent down the valley with a steep plunge at the end. 1.15km @ -14%. KOM 7:44 (John Heppenstall 2024…. don’t ask me how… it won’t last long!).
Transfer 4: Climb the bridleway up towards Pen Line Gate.
Stage 4: MD Traverse (North half) – 826m @ 6%. Singletrack rising traverse, sharp kicker then flattens off. KOM 3:47 (Chris Holdsworth 2017), QOM 4:41 (Pamela Teager 2018).
Transfer 5: Short hop over the ridge and descend into the Nant y Ne
Stage 5: Dywyll the Dark – short up & down over the summit of Moel Dywyll. A rough ground (likely fern strewn) ascent, over the stile at top into sharp descent. 365m. KOM 3:56 (Simon Edwards 2023)
Transfer 5: Short hop along the ridge and descend into the Nant y Ne
Stage 6: The Gully – full on short steep scramble up Stony Gully. 270m @ 36%. KOM 3:27 (Tom Wood 2019), QOM 4:52 (Ceri Belshaw 2017). Sponsor – Clwydian Range Runners
Transfer 6: Back down the main track for few hundred meters.
Stage 7: Moel y Gaer – (The Queen Stage) – Superb initial singletrack leads down to the old hill fort – narrow with technical sections throughout. From the summit you plunge straight down the nose – steep, tight trod through gorse and bracken. 1.6km @ -16%. KOM 7:16 (Simon Edwards 2019), QOM 8:24 (Katy Baugh).
Transfer 8: Slog back up the grassy spur towards Bwlch Penbarras
Stage 8: Buteo Buteo – Initial fight up through bracken drops you over the spur onto a descending traverse. Narrow, technical in places. 620m @ -7%. KOM 3:14 (Gavin Roberts 2019 – Sheeptracks), QOM 4:39 (Sarah Hodgson 2022).
Transfer 9: Back up to BPB and traverse up the Offa’s Dyke path.
Stage 9: Foel Fenlli – Narrow trod from earthwork via spring to summit. 467m @ 14%. Strava record tbc
Transfer 10: Short traverse round the ridgeline from summit
Stage 10: Plummet – Tech descent straight down to the finish from ridgeline. 232m @ -34%. Strava record tbc.
Draft 3 shortened the course and removes longer (time) stages to even up overall competion. Draft 4 added a touch back in and evened up stage times. Draft 5 just tweaking stages but starting to look settled.
Draft map 5 – further tightened timed segments (equalise competition)
Entries are via Fabian4 who will be doing the timing on the day.
