Latest News

South Wales To Play Host to Castles & Cathedrals Sportive On 6th October

by Nick Gregory

Set in beautiful South Wales, the Castles & Cathedrals sportive offers everything for the cyclist keen to test themselves taking in both historical and scenic locations. From testing climbs to tricky descents through urban, industrial and mountainous terrain, this event, taking place on 6th October, caters for a wide cross section of abilities with good transport links for those coming from farther afield.

The event will have simultaneous starts in both Cardiff and Brecon giving everyone the option of cycling one leg or completing the whole distance.

The start and finish locations are leisure centres in both Fairwater (Cardiff) and Brecon. These excellent locations offer ample parking, changing, toilet and shower facilities, an indoor registration area and a café area where hot food will be provided.

The 148km route, with 2,000 metres of climbing, will be a traditional loop taking in the Rhondda Valley climbing Maerdy Mountain on the outward leg from Cardiff with the return section focussing on the reservoirs within the Brecon Beacons before entering Merthyr. The route takes in many historical land marks that have shaped the history of the area for many hundreds of years. Cardiff and Brecon Cathedrals both date back to the Norman Conquest whilst Cardiff Castle is built on the site of a 3rd century Roman Fort. The original Pencelli Castle is also Norman but Castle Coch is a relatively new build dating back only some 130 years. Within Merthyr the route passes Cyfarthfa Castle former home to the Crawshay family who once owned the ironworks which made Merthyr Wales’ biggest town and from which iron was exported all over the world.

It is from this history that the Sportive has chosen its name.

The Ride has gained the support of all four local authorities through which the Ride passes – Powys, RCT, Merthyr and Cardiff. Detailed meetings have been held and South Wales Police have been of great assistance in finalising details of the route. South Wales based Sarn Helen events will be supporting the event along with Cardiff’s number one cycle shop Tredz.

Static and motorcycle marshals have been recruited. The event is not a race but everyone will receive details of their performance including a split time for the individual legs.

Cardiff Council through Active Cardiff will play a major role at the Cardiff end of the Sportive whilst main sponsors are Genesis Construction.

Organising the event is Shelter Cymru sister charity to, but independent from, Shelter in England and Scotland. Shelter Cymru helps people to find and keep a home. In the past year we have helped, face to face, almost 16,000 people. A further 100,000 visitors came to our website to view our advice online pages.

For more event information, and details on how to sign up, please visit: http://castlesandcathedrals.org.uk/