News story

Capel Curig supports army cyclists' epic challenge

Army cyclists tackled the challenging terrain of Snowdonia during a pre-season training camp that tested bikers and bikes to the limit.

• From: Defence Infrastructure Organisation
• Published: 31 March 2014

Members of the Army Cycling Union at Capel Curig Training Camp

Members of the Army Cycling Union (ACU) descended on the Capel Curig Training Camp (CCTC) for the sixth consecutive ACU training event to be held at the site.

Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) staff provided support and facilities, as both mountain bikers and road cyclists from different regiments explored their stunning surroundings on 2 wheels.

The event had more than doubled in size from last year, with some 100 participants, which presented an extra organisational challenge for DIO staff who run the training camp.

The team at Capel Curig arranged accommodation and food for attendees, as well as offering use of a lecture room, operations room, bike storage and drying rooms.

Adrian Condren, DIO Training Safety Officer at CCTC, said:

DIO’s priority is to support our armed forces by providing what they need to live work, train and deploy on operations. This is the sixth season that the ACU have used the facilities at Capel Curig and the size of the exercise is growing every year.

We’re proud to be able to offer Capel Curig as a base for both disciplines of cycling who are able to make the most of the challenging terrain that Snowdonia offers.

Army cyclists making the most of what the Capel Curig Training Camp has to offer [Picture: Crown copyright]

Staff Sergeant Geordie Watson, who arranged the event for the ACU, said:

From the initial concept to the culmination of the camp, the assistance we received was above and beyond what would have been expected. Every single person was fantastic, friendly and cheerful and offered support and professional guidance that was second-to-none.

To describe it as first-class would be an understatement. This has been the most successful camp to date, and has resulted in some fantastic feedback from those that attended.

On behalf of army cycling, I cannot thank and praise all personnel at CCTC enough for their help; we are already looking forward to 2015.

The army cycling season will pan out from this training camp into a series of races known as the Inter Corps Road Race Series; a series of criterium and time-trial-style races held in various locations over the season.

At the end of the season there will be the Inter Corps Championships and also the Inter Service Championships.

Published 31 March 2014