MOTM25 saw the start and finish location move into Wales for the first time, shaving off around 200km from the original route but retaining the toughest off road sections and much of the climbing. The new base was the idyllic bunkhouse at Llwyn Celyn, just north of Abergavenny.
This change of location also meant that the start coincided with stage 5 of the Tour of Britain. Riders set off to find themselves climbing The Tumble alongside cycling fans, with the entire road closed before the stage later in the day. At the top, the fan village construction was in full swing, with riders having to squeeze between TV vans to follow the route.
Soon though, normal service resumed and it was just the riders against the route, as they headed ever deeper into Wales. Nathan Woodhouse and Paddy Cope were neck and neck into the second day, but a series of tyre issues saw Paddy lose a lot of time, eventually needing to get a taxi to acquire more tubes. Further back, Michelle Lindley was the fastest woman on the road but lost her phone on the first night, riding without one from then onwards.
Heavy rain swept over the riders on the second afternoon, slowing progress and forcing many to see out a warm bed for the night. Nathan Woodhouse was the exception, powering on and reaching the finish by Monday afternoon to become our first finisher. Paddy Cope arrived the next morning, completing the Triple Crown and becoming the first person to finish all three of our events.
Michelle Lindley tackled Hay Bluff in darkness and rain to become the first woman back in the early hours of Wednesday. Joe Tresadern arrived that evening to become our second Triple Crown finisher, whilst Lulu Sheard and Kit Menzies finished with a few hours to spare, becoming the first and only pair back.
