Wiggle Dragon Ride - Dragon Devil 300km 

Essentials: 

Distances: 42, 152, 225 & 300 Kms 
Participants: 4,302 
Start: Margam Park, Wales 
Transport: Port Talbot NW Station 4.2 miles or just off the M4 
Feedstops: 5 on the longest route 
Timed: Yes 
Signs: White arrows on red backgrounds for the long route 
Road: The 2014 version of the Dragon ride included more than an extra loop for those who jumped at the chance of undertaking one of the longest sportives available in the UK. The route had more than a passing resemblance to riding in the French Alps; amazing climbs, generally, at a manageable gradient, finished off with stunning, flowing descents.  

When the details of the eleventh Dragon Ride were released at the end of 2013 places were snapped up fast. What made this edition stand out from previous incarnations, and indeed many other sportives, was the addition of the Dragon Devil. A beast in name and nature - at 300km this would prove to be a fearsome foe. Despite this and the thought of climbing almost 3,500m, 336 'Devils' signed up for the challenge set in South Wales. 

The start of the inaugural Wiggle Dragon Ride - Dragon Devil Distance

With three other distances on offer and the return for the second year of the women's only Cycletta event, there is a challenge for every rider. Many make the trek from all parts of the UK to tackle the fearsome climbs of the Brecon Beacons and the surrounding mountains.

For me, the chance to take on the 'long one' proved too much to resist. That's not to say there wasn't a large amount of trepidation in the build-up. I travelled down on the Saturday with three friends from work who'd had similar thoughts to myself. The forecast had been somewhat changeable in the lead up to the Dragon Ride but the journey down was hot and sticky. We'd done our homework and had found a campsite in Nottage down the road. The site at Brodawel was five miles away and meant despite the early start on the Sunday, we wouldn't have to worry about trying to beat the traffic. 

Dawn over Nottage

Plenty of space for the expected hordes

Sunday dawned dry, but a little cloudy, and it appeared the unsettled forecast might just pass us by. With a long day in the saddle ahead, choosing the right attire would be crucial. For those undertaking the Devil, it meant an early start window. In fact it was quite a small one, between 7.00-7.16. There were a few riders milling around the start, and given we'd arrived with time to spare we opted to grab a coffee before being ushered into the start area. 

After a brief rallying call and a safety briefing it was time for a countdown...10, 9, 8...3, 2, 1 a blast on an air horn and we were off. With nothing to compare the Dragon to it was tough to know what to expect, apart from plenty of time in the saddle and climbing. The latter had suddenly got a lot more daunting with the arrival of an email earlier in the week from the organisers. With the additional loop added to the existing Gran Fondo distance, there had been a miscalculation in the elevation. What had started out as a leg sapping 3,430m of climbing had now rather scarily morphed into 4,920m. Thus, a rather large increase that had caused plenty of concerned conversations in the week. 

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