Entries for the 2017 Dragon Ride L’Etape Wales by Le Tour de France are now open, with four distances (100km, 153km, 230km & 305km) available across gruelling but picturesque Welsh terrain.
The popular sportive is now in its 14th year, with Tour de France organisers ASO having got on board last year to support the event and bring the Tour experience to Welsh shores.
Next year’s Dragon Ride starts and finishes at Margam Park in Port Talbot, and takes place on Sunday June 17.
All four routes tackle the climbs of Bwlch (5.8km at a six per cent average gradient, and maximum pitch of 22 per cent) and Rhigos (6.2km at a more consistent four per cent, and an average gradient of seven per cent).
Where the 100km Macmillan 100 then returns to Margam Park with no further notable climbs, the 153km Medio Fondo continues north to the Brecon Beacons to tackle Devil’s Elbow – 1.9km at eight per cent – and the 230km Gran Fondo also adds Black Mountain (7.1km at five per cent) to add up to 3,616m of climbing in all.
If you’re a sucker for punishment, there’s also the jaw-dropping 305km Dragon Devil ride, which includes all four previous ascents and a timed climb of the Devil’s Staircase – a thigh-numbing 1.3km climb with an average gradient of 12 per cent and maximum pitches of more than double that.
Riders looking to slay the dragon can also take on the Dragon Tour – a two or three-day Tour featuring 90km rides on the Friday and Saturday (Saturday only for the two-day Tour), before the choice of the Dragon Ride sportives on the Sunday.
New for 2017, there will also be an official Dragon Ride L’Etape Wales training weekend on Saturday April 22 and Sunday April 23, in association with Rowe & King, the coaching company set-up by Team Sky pro Luke Rowe and London 2012 team pursuit gold medallist Dani King.
Prices for the sportive start at £47.50 for the Macmillan 100. For full details, or to enter, visit the Human Race website.
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