Event Locations
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Llanwrtyd Wells (Wales): 4th July 2009
GORE BIKE WEAR Road Sportive (Saturday) followed by the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon (Sunday)

30.06.09 - NEWS - Dave Atkinson from our media partner Road.CC had gone out to recce the 1st round of the GORE BIKE WEAR Road Sportive in and around Llanwrtyd Wells and has put his finding including a video and some great photos up on their site. Click here to check out the 'live tracking story' and here for the 'recce video'. The event will take place on the 4th June and there are still places available.

This year’s summer’s 1st GORE BIKE WEAR road sportive round, moves from Builth Wells to Llanwrtyd Wells. The event is located in a stunningly scenic area in the heart of Mid Wales and an ideal place for one of the most breathtaking and challenging road sportives in the 2009 series.

John Lloyd is once again putting two challenging sportive course together and makes use of his extensive local knowledge from countless hours in the saddle of his road bike. Only a short drive from his home town Builth Wells the move to the new location open a completely new area and will allow him to give the riders what they are looking for. Known all over the world through events like the Man vs. Horse and the Bog Snorkelling Word Championships Llanwrtyd Wells will offer the ideal backdrop for the new event/location of the 2009 Road Sportive Challenges 2009.

The event village is situated a few hundred metres from the town offering lots of drinking and eating places - ideal for a quiet shandy before the big ride on Saturday or Sunday.

The event village/camp ground/start and finish location will be signposted from every direction from Friday afternoon onwards and will stay open for the campers till Monday morning. So if you want to make a long weekend of it – this is your chance.

GORE BIKE WEAR Road Sportives
The Llanwrtyd Wells road sportive will be run on the Saturday of the event weekend with an open start from early in the morning onwards. Following the huge trend of non-competitive road events the GORE BIKE WEAR Road Sportives are trying to set themselves apart from the rest by offering a high quality event package with outstanding courses and first class support around the course plus all inclusive camping, parking, facilities, event meal and finisher present…pretty much the same deal the riders of the marathon series have been enjoying since the very beginning. 

Two courses to choose from:
The Llanwrtyd Wells road sportives will have two courses on offer – an approx. 80-100mile and an approx.40-50mile loop. The GORE BIKEWEAR Sportives are run very similarly to the Merida marathons by being one loop events with the start and finish being in the same location as the event village, registration and event camping.

Due to legal reasons the Sportives will be started in small waves of riders at set intervals. The start will open at a certain time and will stay open for approximately 1 hour to give everybody the chance to have a relaxing start at the time of their choosing.

The courses are fully marked but every rider will get a small ‘backup map’ given in case that marking is not 100% clear or gets damaged or removed. Around the course our energy food sponsor High5 will be present with energy drinks, bars, and gels as well as with bananas and water. Alongside the energy backup, mechanics will be out there to help everybody with any technical problems. The feeding stations are normally between 25-35miles apart but should not be relied upon as the sole source of your food and drink.

Once you’ve managed to complete your ride and come over the finish line make sure you don’t just race past the commentator and the timing crew as you would miss out on your unique finisher present and on your chances of getting one of the many spot prizes that we will give away again.

Course Description

Both routes start from the Show Field, Llanwrtyd Wells, the two routes split immediately on leaving the venue. The 50 mile route heads west through Llanwrtyd Wells towards Abergwesyn. The 90 mile route heads east, gently descending towards Llangammarch Wells, then along undulating B roads through Garth and Beulah and then west to rejoin the shorter route in Abergwesyn.

Both routes then turn towards Tregaron, eventually reaching the Devils Staircase, one mile long and very steep, this has been on route for both the Milk Race and the Kelloggs Road Race.

After the staircase you drop steeply, only to face another climb almost as steep and a bit longer. On descending from this second climb you will turn south down the Tywi Valley towards Llandovery, reaching the first feed-station and checkpoint at 33 miles for the longer course and 25 miles for the shorter course. A viewpoint overlooking the Llynbrianne Reservoir. This stretch being in one of the most beautiful valleys in Wales. The road leads through Rhandirmywn passing The Royal Oak Public House.

On reaching Llandovery the shorter route turns east and climbs over the Sugar loaf and then descends back to Llanwrtyd Wells. While the longer route follows the main road for a few miles before turning onto B roads towards Brecon. The second feed station is near the village of Cradoc, at approximately 67 miles. Just past Cradoc the route turns left towards Upper Chapel and then left again over the Eppynt Military Range, descending to Llangammarch Wells and continues back through Cefngorwydd to Llanwrtyd Wells.

Statistics – short course (standard sportive)
Length: approx: 50 mile
Climbing: approx. 1,600 meters

Statistics – long course (classic sportive)
Length: approx: 90 mile
Climbing: approx. 2,600 meters

Please note that all course details are approximate and that the course might vary from the details given here.


Download - Further course details (including profiles) - short sportive - PDF File: 1.2mb

Download - Further course details (including profiles) - long sportive - PDF File: 1.2mb

Camping, registration and start time:
Camping will be available (included in the entry fee) from Friday night through to Monday morning at the Show Fields in Llanwrtyd Wells.

Start times:
The GORE BIKEWEAR Road Sportive will start 8am onwards on Saturday the 4th July ’09 at the Show Fields in Llanwrtyd Wells.

Registration opening times:
Friday from 6 – 9pm
Saturday from 6am - 8pm (Please note: from 6 - 9am on Saturday only road sportive riders can register) 
Sunday from 7 - 9am

Entry fees:
The entry fee for the approx. 50 and 100mile long GORE BIKE WEAR Road sportive is £25 per rider.

Discount: If you enter the road sportive on Saturday and the mountain bike event on Sunday (at the same weekend) then we will give you a £10 discount on your over all entry fee.

Your entry fee for the GORE BIKE WEAR Road Sportive includes:
Ride entry
Free post event food
Free usage of service stations
Free usage of facilities
Finishing present
Free camping and parking
Spot prizes

Location and our man on the ground:
The Show Fields in Llanwrtyd Wells is the location for the Summer Merida Bikes MTB Marathon event (5th July ‘09) and the GORE BIKEWEAR Road Sportive (4th July ‘09).

Our man in Llanwrtyd Wells is John Lloyd – I don’t think we have to introduce him at all. John is the main man behind the series and an expert when it comes to the area around Llanwrtyd Wells where he first started Mountain Biking and road riding many years ago. Give him a ring on 01982 552923 if you have any more specific questions.

We will add any course news and last minute updates to our regular newsletter. If you have not subscribed yet please go onto the home page and click the newsletter button on the right hand side.

Helping Hands

LLANWRTYD WELLS
The beautiful Llanwrtyd Wells in the Secret Heart of Wales - officially the smallest town in Great Britain – being located at the centre of one of the last remaining wildernesses with the cleanest air in UK has to offer.

With its beautiful clean air and low light pollution, it sits astride the River Irfon and the A483 between Builth Wells and Llandovery. The River Irfon begins in an SSSI (site of Special Scientific Interest) and is an upper tributary of the River Wye to which salmon return to spawn each year. The river flows through the town joining the River Wye at Builth Wells. The most spectacular scenery; forests, mountains, hidden valleys and many conservation sites surround Llanwrtyd, providing a habitat for many rare species of flora and fauna. If you are lucky enough you may also have the privilege of spotting rare red squirrel. With the successful repopulation of the Red Kite following its near extinction in this area, you will be certain to see them soaring wild and free in the skies above the town.

Local Information
For information about local services and accommodation please get in touch with the local Tourist Information Centres and check out the local web sites.

LLANWRTYD WELLS
Telephone: 01591 610666
Address:
Ty Barcud
The Square
Llanwrtyd Wells
Powys
LD5 4RB
Web: http://www.ukinformationcentre.com/central-wales/llanwrtyd-wells-tourist-information-centre.htm