Pic by Phil O’Connor www.sportivephoto.com

Dragon Ride Wales, the UK’s premier cyclosportive ride, will go into 2009 as part of a new ‘super-partnership’ of international sportive events.

The Dragon Ride Wales will work together with the Wattyl Lake Taupo Challenge in New Zealand and South Africa’s Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour to promote all 3 rides and nations as ‘must visit’ destinations on the international calendar.

“We have had close links with the Lake Taupo Challenge and Cycle Tour for some years now,” says Lou Lusardi, founder and organizer of the Dragon Ride Wales, “it’s the logical step for us and other top rides in the world. Both the Cycle Tour and the Lake Taupo are outstanding events and we are very proud to be able to strengthen the enjoyment of challenge riding on 3 continents.”

The Dragon Ride Wales celebrated its 5th anniversary in 2008 and during its lifetime has seen a phenomenal growth in the UK sportive market.

“We are uniquely positioned,” adds Lusardi; “the Dragon is one of the oldest and is certainly the biggest annual ride in the UK and at a time when cycle racing continues to suffer from negative publicity it’s great that we and our partners can show just how brilliant a pastime riding a bicycle can be.”

The Wattyl Lake Taupo Challenge is New Zealand’s premier cycling event with entries in excess of 10,000 per year. Taking place on a 160km loop around the beautiful Lake Taupo in the North Island, it was awarded UCI Golden Bike Status in 2006.

In South Africa and throughout the bike riding world, the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour is legendary. With an annual entry limited to 35,000 riders, the event has a history stretching back to 1978 and also holds UCI Golden Bike status.

The new ‘super-partnership’ will share marketing and sponsorship strategies, planning and tourist liaison as well as working towards forging an elite league of world sportive rides.

For further information on all 3 events in 2009 visit the Dragon Ride Wales website and those of the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour and the Wattyl Lake Taupo Challenge.