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8 UK mountain biking events to enter in 2021
Start the year anew and set yourself a two-wheeled challenge.
Entering the new year with a belly full of festive celebrations is often accompanied by those all-important New Year's resolutions. To help get you off to a flying start, here’s a comprehensive roundup of some of the best and most challenging mountain bike events happening in the UK for 2021. So, whether you're looking to up your enduro game, pluck up the courage to compete in your first race, or simply try something new, grab your diaries and take a look at what's on offer.
As a result of the current global public health situation, a lot of events listed below will have limited spaces due to postponed 2020 entries being carried over to 2021. It's worth noting that events can be postponed or cancelled at short notice, so please check with organisers before travelling.
1. Battle On The Beach
Line up alongside cyclocross and fat bikes in this race with a difference
© Anthony Pease
Open to all types of bicycles, Battle on the Beach is an annual sell-out event, famed for its unique format and challenging conditions. With three laps covering a total of 45km, this mass start event takes place on the beach of the picturesque Pembrey Country Park in South Wales.
The route is made up of a 5km beach section, 5km singletrack and 5km double-track or forest road, and caters for all categories and ages of riders, including tandem, fatbike and singlespeed.
2. Macavalanche
Fancy taking on a mass start?
© No Fuss Events
If getting to the Alps is a bit of a stretch for you, then worry not as the Macavalanche will give you that gnarly mass-start event you're craving.
Taking place at the stunning Glencoe Mountain Resort in Scotland, the Macavalanche is an epic enduro mass-start event that attracts hundreds of riders each year. With the course details kept tightly under wraps, this is a blind stage event – as if it wasn't going to be challenging enough.
3. London to Brighton Off-Road at Night
Up the ante and take on this iconic pilgrimage to the sea by night
© Rough Ride Guide
The London to Brighton Off-Road sportive has become extremely popular over the years, earning its place as an iconic ride for every mountain biker – but how about riding the full 100km route at night?
With a mixture of terrains combining wide fire roads with technical singletrack, you’ll set off from London in the twilight hours, before weaving along the course to arrive on the hilltop above Brighton in time for a spectacular sunrise.
4. MTB Meetup
Fancy a free weekend of riding in Wales?
© Chris Davies / Eastwood Media (@cmjdavies / @eastwood_media)
The MTB Meetup is the social gathering of the year. Founded and run by volunteers, the annual pilgrimage to North Wales attracts hundreds of riders, all looking to hang out, ride bikes and enjoy good food.
Over the years, more brands have turned up to showcase their wares, along with professional guides and coaches to lead organised rides and workshops. What's even better about this chilled mountain bike event is that it's totally free to attend.
5. Manx 100
The Manx 100's route is the hardest single lap you can ride of the island
© Manx 100
While riding a single loop around the Isle of Man might sound like a simple enough task to be undertaken, don’t underestimate the difficulty of the Manx 100. Faced with 160 gruelling kilometers and almost 5,000m of ascent, this is an event for anyone who enjoys challenging their own physical ability, stamina and mental strength.
However, if that seems a little too much to bite off for your first year, there are 100km and 50km options to ease you in.
6. Malverns Classic
How far can you get on the legendary lake ride?
© Malverns Classic
Racing, demonstrations, live entertainment, pump track and funfair rides – it can only be the Malverns Classic. This rapidly growing event has become one of the biggest mountain bike festivals of the summer.
Whether you fancy a spot of racing, a group ride out or perhaps browsing the massive selection of brands and exhibitors; this is a weekend for bike lovers, families and friends to get out and have a great time.
7. The Beast Unchained
The Beast Unchained is Coed y Brenin’s biggest challenge ride of the year. Beginning on the iconic Beast trail, the course leads you out of the trail centre and into the wild where your stamina, skill and endurance are put to the ultimate test.
The event offers two distances to choose from – 30km or 45km. The 30km option is ideal for those riders new to the event scene or who prefer a shortened ride. But if you have enough fuel in your legs, then how about the 45km epic? Offering a significant undertaking in terms of distance and terrain, this option is perfect for trail-hardened riders.
8. Hopetech Women Enduro
This end-of-season banger is strictly for ladies only
© Roo Fowler
A few years one from its inception, the Hopetech Women Enduro has quickly become the most anticipated women's mountain bike event of the year.
Set in the heart of Gisburn Forest, the race consists of a 16km lap with three timed trail centre-surfaced stages, so there is plenty of time to socialise, ride bikes and check out the event village. This event is perfect for novices who want to try racing for the first time but is also fun for the experienced racer, too.
