Warming Up

And So It Begins...

First rider through CP1

Wednesday's Starters Are All On Route

Into The Night

Dancing In The Moonlight

Big Moves On Night 1

Cream First Or Jam?

Thursday Progress

North To South

The first have arrived to camp out ahead of the start of the 2025 edition of Borderland 500, and we've been hard at work setting up today ready for everyone at the start/finish.

The first riders will be setting out on the long route early tomorrow, leaving plenty of time to arrive back for Saturday night's celebration on their triumphant return. We can't wait! There will be a steady stream of departures through Thursday as faster and more ambitious riders begin their journeys. Who will have decided on the right strategy? Only time will tell, but all will return with stories to share over pizza & a drink come Saturday night. With the finish line immediately outside the celebration area, returning riders are sure to enjoy the warm welcome.

The boundless Welsh & borders landscape awaits and even the weather looks decidedly 'Welsh' for the coming days. Hopefully no repeats of the torrential downpours from last year, but have you really been to Wales if it stayed dry? We have some extra cover this year at the finish with a big festival style tent in case of wet weather on Saturday!

We'll be here throughout with regular updates and photos for everyone following along. Many happy travels to all our intrepid starters, may you know only tailwinds and sunshine!

Xavier is our first rider away! Getting going early to catch his ferry back to Spain on Saturday.

![PXL 20250910 060859323](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7fAI7c4PQWWaeo9NwpsxIo/2453dbeb8f945111161381b75cb9bd3e/PXL_20250910_060859323.jpg)

It's a grey start here at HQ, but the sun has just come out to cheer up our early starters!

![PXL 20250910 071846045](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5VJlCqkgcDcUpT0fOleFM9/f974d5f96ee1b91e21afa286cc65b61a/PXL_20250910_071846045.jpg)

There's a steady stream of riders now on the road. Martina even brought some sunshine for us!

![IMG-20250910-WA0001](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/69dLwgh8VzbcfR8DT4qHRj/144e30eb8c5605b43b02f930c951cfd7/IMG-20250910-WA0001.jpg)

We have a good range of strategies for our early starters, some leaving early and worrying if they will make it, and others planning to be early but with room for slowing down

Getting Going

We have quite a few riders back for a second year with some demons to quash from last time. Jack and Matt are back to finish the route with a little more time in hand. Given how well they did last year, we look forward to seeing what they can do!

![IMG-20250910-WA0005](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4krwaP4DgWIOa7sw7XCxES/b7fdd1ce1a9fbb2210217f803398fd0c/IMG-20250910-WA0005.jpg)

Garry is also on his way for a rematch, good to catch up again!

Returning Riders

Xavier our first starter has made excellent progress and is already through CP1 at Conwy, looking forward to see how far he can get tonight.

A bit of a rain band moving through into this afternoon after a nice morning, this will test the resolve for riders just getting started. But then nothing is forever, and that includes the rain! Generally better weather forecast for Thursday & Friday, but showers will be passing through.

We are big believers that there is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes! Easy for us to say though from in our tent...

A Change In The Weather

Everyone has something to pull them through the hard times on a ride, or some reminder of home. We love the lego figurehead leading the way onwards!

Mascots

All our starters for Wednesday are now out there and progressing well. The next wave of long route starters will be off early tomorrow.

Xavier continues to fly ahead and is already close to CP2. Maybe he's just pushing to get out of the rain! Lee Booth is not far behind.

![Screenshot 20250910-152154](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/401Ka2mObaAMXMMQpbHO7Z/73bbeb9e33206a6f7c4bcaf28d895b87/Screenshot_20250910-152154.png)

Can you guess which country is buried beneath the radar?

Most of the later morning starters are collecting into small groups around Denbigh and Llandudno. We are planning to catch up with a few of them out on the route this evening as the weather (hopefully!) begins to clear.

There are some shocking conditions out in the mountains today, a real tough test for our brave souls.

There are some bright horizons ahead!

![PXL 20250910 160619381](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/71sR2SicwsdZ2XwUteFUsv/8300c539bd0223155fea156fb633a455/PXL_20250910_160619381.jpg)

A Wet One

Tough conditions out in the mountains this afternoon. Wet and changeable, with passing heavy showers. Still a few bright spots inbetween! We are so proud of everyone, still with a big smile for the camera!

![PXL 20250910 165451963](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1rVgwklTF2JnmOXvQo2qBf/6dc771fafdb9f01fe9ef2b8e101bcb1a/PXL_20250910_165451963.jpg)
![PXL 20250910 171237869](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6unruo96ePvvBLzijb2c1t/932df7755e8072cf165e0fcc655134e5/PXL_20250910_171237869.jpg)
![PXL 20250910 171804198](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/15llfvvzklWdIr2YQNIsgz/c71ce3f1d66f022dc3d97e08ae508e7d/PXL_20250910_171804198.jpg)
![PXL 20250910 180606294](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6LtmhenQAC6XJE5BoyZLBi/d419f71fefc7ac151544685ae19380a6/PXL_20250910_180606294.jpg)

Fighting Spirit

Carlo Mascia

Three distances to choose from, the 500-mile epic Borderland500 is a road ultra exploring the Welsh Borderland.

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