Damp weather and big climbs challenge on stage 3

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Day three of the TransWales may have dawned with a drizzle of H2O from above at the day's start in Clun, but it finished with blue skies and sunshine at the day's end in Llanidloes, some 70km and 2050m of climbing later. With no special stage, there was no change in the overall standings, however that didn't mean it was an easy day.

Indeed, with the damp weather conditions and significant chunks of climbing for riders to conquer, it proved to be the toughest day's riding of the TransWales so far.

Beneath overcast skies, the massed riders pedalled their way out of beautiful Clun at 9:00 am to climb up and onto the historic Offa's Dyke trail. The exposed situation atop of Llanfair Hill at 432m - scenic is it most certainly was - was merely the hors d'oeuvre for the main course of moor top trails that would make up much of the day's riding. Of course, getting to the tops required significant grunt - and the behemoth of Beacon Hill at 547m was the gruntiest of all the day's climbs.

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Long, steep, and unforgiving, it seemed to refuse to end and wrung both the riders' will and strength in equal measure. The reward for overcoming, however, was an unequalled vantage point to survey the majestic beauty of the landscape. Of course, picture post card perfection is a rare occurrence and today was sadly no different, as the panorama was occasionally smudged by wind blown rain. So far, however, the TransWales has been generally dry and enjoyed good weather, and today’ wet start has been the exception rather than the rule.

With no change in the overall standings, the previous category leaders retain their leader’s jerseys for another day. And what a day tomorrow promises to be: the riders will delve deep into the heart of Hafren Forest, the source of the River Severn, before taking in the steep and hugely picturesque descent off Foel Fadian and into the Dovey Valley. The stage then crosses the river Dovey itself and heads into the woods to bring riders to the literal climax of the day's stage: the 3.5km downhill special stage on the final descent of the Climachx trail. With 70km in the riders legs before they even start the singletrack roller coaster special stage, it will be a genuine test of the riders' technical ability and fitness. Rest assured, sparks will fly as the competition steps up a gear as the contenders look to cement their grip on the TransWales champion crowns.

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