Entries for the Verenti Dragon Ride will open at midnight on December 29 – with a new-look route pushing the Gran Fondo option up to 200km.

“Within a few days of this year’s ride finishing we started to look at a revised course for the 2011 Verenti Dragon Ride,” said organisers.

“The coastline to the south of the M4 in this part of South Wales is spectacular and for a few years we’ve wanted to send the Dragon Ride this way.”

The famous cyclo-sportive will head south from the start via a handful of minor climbs before the first feed stop on the seafront at Porthcawl.

With the 45km Corto route returning to base, both the Medio Fondo and Gran Fondo routes will then tackle the Bwlch ascent – 13.5 miles of climbing to the summit and second feed at 550m.

That’s the signal for the Medio loop to split and head for home back, while the Gran option takes in the Rhigos ascent and a second, shorter attempt of Bwlch – but avoids the climb to the Beacons reservoir. 

Organisers claim the Gran Fondo takes in 3,000m of climbing, while the 120km Medio Fondo enjoys 1,800m of ascent.

For more information point your browser to www.verentidragonride.com

Read Richard and David’s 2010 Dragon Ride report.