Oliver Hayward

Cara Dixon

Anthony Funnell

David Johnson

Chris Griffiths

Harry Goss

Tom Avon

Clare Walkeden

Chris Pugh

Ian Howell

Barry Lynham

Sam Bennett

Tom Hall

Liam Holohan

Lucas Ashworth

Robyn Llewellyn

Alan Goldsmith

Ross Mallen

James Griffiths

David Ayre

Sarah Hall

Andrei Tereskin

Richie McColl

Harry Ashman

Amy Fox

Grace Compton

Ray Wood

Tom Dawkins

Rachel Scott

Sarah-Jane Garside

Emma Daly

Emma Young

Andrea Lewis

Marie Convery

Rachel Wheatstone

Rebecca Drane

Emma Handley

Michelle Creed

Kate Shakespeare

Faye McLean

Jax Quant

Setting a blisteringly fast pace from start to finish, our first ride home was Ollie Hayward. An incredible ride through the mountainous terrain, he battled it out at the front from the very start of the race. Trading places with the other favourites throughout the first day of riding, he asserted his dominance overnight as the terrain got rougher and the climbs got harder.

![IMG 1540](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6jsiZg0ZcsO2zUEBKxvjD7/ad53135e67e2db3d1d2e29e8d7e5d055/IMG_1540.JPEG)

With other top riders scratching along the way yesterday, Ross Mallen due to an inability to keep food down (a bad situation for anyone, but a particular issue for Ross as he's a type 1 diabetic), Robyn Llewellyn stopping due to mechanical issues, and Liam Holohan calling it a day late on with a knee injury, the battle was between Ollie and Cara for the win.

Ultimately maintaining his lead throughout the final day, Ollie rolled home with a record setting ride in around 37.5 hours. An absolutely insane time for a route this hard, knocking over 10 hours off the FKT.

![IMG 1332](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6M8KQsUMlozGM1jAVQ1zxM/7b69f97ccec8b95cc2ddffa79beaab49/IMG_1332.jpg)

A couple of hours later, with an equally stunning performance, we welcomed home Cara. 

![IMG 0635](//assets.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6r9TjaQSCK72jjxRdVhQRj/a70166e871596ec246e7eaca5e699e48/IMG_0635.heic)

Finishing 2nd overall, and setting a women's course record in the process, Cara had an impressive and well paced ride from the very start. Efficient resupply, and very few stops along the way, helped her maintain her position throughout the two days. Often trading places with others as they stopped to refuel.

Congratulations to both!

![IMG 1393](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6eNmpayE8I28wla8JTxP3f/48c8d9a650b9f4d4956e2f8eafcafd29/IMG_1393.jpg)


The winners are back, and the records are broken!

After a day of sunshine and warmth yesterday, the weather took a turn for the Welsh as riders made their way into the mountains today.

The search for shelter turned into a challenge of its own, with riders throughout the race trying to find a warm bed for the night. The remoteness of large stretches of the route add to its beauty and allure, but also make moments like these even more difficult.

![IMG 0613](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3OLU15AKfYzHTB0bqCIZ8y/8297ced4cb15805146f3d0bca851161f/IMG_0613.JPG)

Rob caught up with some soggy riders at a petrol station in Machynlleth, a common saviour of the ultra racer looking for refuge and resupply. With a lack of hotel rooms on offer, it was decision time. Alan jumped on a train to a nearby town for a bed for the night, Clare lent into the spirit of adventure and tracked down a public toilet to make her bed for the night, and Harry decided to just keep pedalling.

![IMG 0601](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5eRxIzXOoYGMt5kU43ey83/5f48c4be174657cb99055bd978d99be5/IMG_0601.JPG)

Scattered throughout the Welsh countryside, we watched our dots ride to bunkhouses, bothies, and beer garden airbnbs, alongside our rally riders choosing to turn into their tents early in the hopes of hiding from the worst of the storm.

Updates in the group chat of all the weird and wonderful sleep spots started to roll in, and we're happy to report everyone is rested and back riding this morning.

...and the sun is out!

![7FF7B4C4-4416-4774-A647-3A87A99D0014](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5HrZ4Pxv8CffI6Wvu2xkVY/a10dbe1897dcaa62ec8c4f41a0f47ab3/7FF7B4C4-4416-4774-A647-3A87A99D0014.JPG)


Day Two: The storm rolls in

Day one of the Blaenau is drawing to a close (for us anyway, there are still plenty of riders out there pedalling into the evening) and what a day it’s been!

Lots of sunshine, lots of smiling faces, and plenty of big climbs already in the legs.

![IMG 0519](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7kLKF92MdvV9Mxa5i6H0Nd/ead49241ff2a7b85dd9442657e5ce69b/IMG_0519.JPG)

At the front of the field we have a number of riders setting a fast pace, on track for a new course record perhaps? With pre-race favourites Cara Dixon, Liam Holohan, Ollie Hayward, Ross Mallen, and Robyn Llewellyn all making incredible progress over the rough and rolling terrain, and with the big obstacles of the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains yet to come it will be exciting to see how things change going into day two.

![IMG 0516](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/a2zCj84TxAdIuPqIYRu9w/2713b4071cb0bb03170ee623722cc469/IMG_0516.JPG)

They've spent a lot of the day within a mere few kilometres of each other, with plenty of leapfrogging inevitably taking place. From the looks of the trackers, all riders have stopped for resupply along the way, with the exception of Cara who appears to have blown straight through every town. It will be interesting to see if this impacts anything as the hours tick on. 

![IMG 0542](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5WKyOmrJeCvB4WbjtxzZxV/7523233050d766d37cf55ae68d059e44/IMG_0542.JPG)

I couldn't help but include the above photo of Highland Trail 550 legend/organiser Alan Goldsmith on a section of hike-a-bike, it feels only fitting!

As far as we’re aware there haven’t been many dramas on the trails, with only one scratch so far. We’ve had reports of tyre and wheel troubles for Tom Avon from our roving reporter Rob Gardiner, but he’s back riding strongly now and still looks to be in good spirits.

![IMG 0539](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6SNWDaofl6nhMjMuqgDewG/c0f98498cf8cf14324f47ea40b5c773c/IMG_0539.JPG)

There’s guaranteed to be plenty of stories to tell from everyone out there when we tune back in tomorrow, so watch this space for more updates as events unfold!

Thanks to event partner Zolla for heading out into the hills to do some live dotwatching, and for taking these awesome photos👌

![IMG 0530](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/65FQXPCDwkoM3QdHR0bpTm/257cdac2bbebf420bc7cc2e0c756570d/IMG_0530.JPG)

Day One: leapfrogging through the hills

The rider's have rolled out ahead of 600(ish)km's of mountainous Welsh terrain. With no official cut-off, most will be racing to make it home for the pizza party on Tuesday evening. The fastest few should be finished in around 48hours though, and there are some big names to watch out there.

It's a stacked field for this year's edition, with some returning favourites as well as some new faces! 

*Liam Holohan* - Former pro Liam is likely the one to beat out there! Having retired from a career on the smooth stuff, we're excited to see how fast he goes out there on the trails.

*Robyn Llewellyn* - A rapid rider from the 2023 edition of Blaenau, Robyn was way out in front of the field when a broken wheel ended his race last year. He's back for a do-over, and is looking for a fast finish this time around. He's chosen to ride an MTB, unlike the other riders on this list, only time will tell if that choice pays off.

*Ross Mallen* - A rider who has completed the Blaenau before, in fast fashion nonetheless, Ross is bringing experience to the race this year. Knowledge of the route, as well as lessons learned along the way, might just make him the real dark horse.

*Cara Dixon* - An experienced and incredibly strong ultra racer, who knocks out big miles all year, Cara has ridden a lot of the route in preparation over the last couple of weeks. She's made some kit adjustments as a result, including fitting a wider tyre for the rougher terrain, and seemed calm and collected at the start.

*Ollie Hayward* - With an impressive list of results already to his name, including wins in both the Dorset Divide and All Points North last season, Ollie is certainly one to watch out there! Can he add the Blaenau 600 to his palmares? 

It's going to be a hotly contested race, and we may see route records tumble this weekend.


The riders are off, and the race is on.

[https://ridewithgps.com/embeds?type=route&id=43165962&metricUnits=true&sampleGraph=true](https://ridewithgps.com/embeds?type=route&id=43165962&metricUnits=true&sampleGraph=true)

The Route - Blaenau 600

Molly Weaver

Blaenau 600 2024 Wales gravel/off-road adventure through Cambrian Mountains, Brecons, Berwyns and Black Mountains.

Blaenau 600 2024

A truly Welsh upland adventure through some of the land's finest off-road sewn together with characteristically hilly tarmac, including the Brecons, Berwyns, Black Mountains, Cambrians and Snowdonia.

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Blaenau 600 2024

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