The battle on the Beach is the UK’s biggest off road cycling race with over 1000 competitors on the start line, racing along the beach in the Sand Dunes at Pembrey Sands in Wales.

HUNT rider Tom Couzens lined up to defend his title after winning the past 2 editions. We'll let Tom tell the story…

Words by Tom Couzens | Images by Ribble Cycles

Battle on the Beach always delivers and has become a staple on my race calendar in recent years. Going in as defending champion from the previous 2 years and a 2nd place the year before that it’s a race that plays into my strengths. A mixture of technical, twisty sandy single tracks connected together by fast, wide open sections you can really put the hammer down means it’s a course that requires multiple skill setsLining up on the start line surrounded by over a thousand other riders nerves are always high. This year that was amplified with it being my first race back after crashing and breaking my knee in the back end of 2025. However I knew if I played my cards right I could lean on my strengths in the technical sections to hopefully deliver a result.

Sand Dune surfing

As always the race started off full gas. A strong headwind for the first 5km but a halt to most breakaway attempts but with a narrow beach exit fast approaching the after burners started to be turned on. A slight hiccup on my part with positioning meant I was a few riders too far back and as a result was forced to run the beach exit allowing for the riders in front to open up a gap. Two riders really took the most of this opportunity and took off, never to be seen again. However after catching back with the group of 4 in front the fight for the final podium spot was still very much on.

Fast gravel sections intersected with the flowing single tracks and a few steep kickers meant an all rounder wheelset was needed. The Hunt 40 Limitless Aero Gravel have been my go to for all gravel riding the past year and again they performed exceptionally over the weekend. Fast on the open sections, nimble through the twisty stuff as well as stiff and lightweight to help me power up the climbs yet stable in the open, exposed sections they really are the perfect all rounder.

Full beans down the beach
 
As the race progressed I used my technical skill set partnered with the agility of the Hunts to push the pace through a single track section and open up a gap to the chasing group behind. With still a lap to go and a strong headwind section along the beach to go it was all about gritting my teeth, getting aero and giving it some beans all the way to the finish line to roll over in 3rd place.
 
In all honesty I’m buzzing with that. After how the past few months have been with setback and setback with the injury even making it to the start line was an achievement, but to make a podium for the 4th year running I’m proper chuffed about and can’t wait to go again next year.
 
Now it’s time to rest up before putting in a big block of training ahead of the next big goals which include the Traka and the Gralloch in May before an exciting trip to Iceland later on in the year!