Meet the Riders (Part 1)

First up, let's take a look at the riders competing at the pointy end of the race, starting with two women who have been locked in a neck-and-neck battle from the start...

Molly Weaver

Molly Weaver is a former pro for the Matrix Fitness, Liv-Plantur and Trek-Drops teams. She now rides for Orbea Racing. Don’t let this impressive list of road-racing employers fool you into thinking that she won’t be equally as fast off road - we have seen how seriously she is taking this race in her preparations.

Her training for the race included 1300 (muddy) laps of her parent’s garden as a charity money-raising lockdown “Weaver” alternative to the Dirty Reiver, which you can read about in this Cycling Weekly Article. She didn’t have to carry all of her provisions on this occasion, however - and now her bike tips the scales at 35kg wet!

Check out Molly's Instagram here

Gail Brown

Gail is no stranger to ultra endurance racing, having finished as 3rd Woman in last year’s TCR No7 in just over 13 days - very impressive, especially as it was her first attempt at this kind of event! She has multiple strings to her bow too, with mountain biking and mountain trail running experience that should stand her in good stead for this race. She’s also a physiotherapist, so she can repair any injuries she sustains on the fly.

Gail has gone with the sensible choice of hardtail mountain bike for this year’s event. The suspension will make life faster and more comfortable on the off-road sections, and a set of Tailfin panniers is a sleek and secure option for carrying all her food.

Check out Gail’s Dotwatcher Rider Profile. and her Instagram here.