Essentials: 

Date: Sunday 8th June 
Distances: 95 miles (Medio), 140 miles (Gran Fondo) and 186 miles (Devil) 
Entry fee: £52.50, £57.50, £87.50 
Participants: 4,500 
Start: Margam Park, Port Talbot. Parking freely available in the park area. Large event village with trade stands, food and drink, massage etc. 
Feedstops: 3 on the Medio, 4 on the Gran Fondo, 5 on the Devil 
Catering: Hot/cold drinks and food available before and after the ride (free pasta meal at the end) 
Timed: Helmet timing chip - sent out in advance with rider numbers, map and ride manual  
Signs: A clearly way-marked route with visible signage (black arrows on coloured background) 
Roads: Great routes on quiet roads for the most part, a few short sections on main roads with plenty of climbing. NEG riders, medical, mechanical and broom wagon on route to provide assistance if needed and photographers from SportCam present.  
Goody bag: Dragon medal, product samples  

Review pictures: Kev Sprules, SportCam, Sean Lacey 

This one has been on my wish list for a while - it's without doubt one of the most famous UK-based sportives around. This year a friend of mine, Kev Sprules, signed up and it proved to be the extra motivation I needed to make my debut. 

To be honest I was a bit apprehensive - I ride many sportives throughout the season, but none are as long or hilly as the Garn Fondo route we had selected: 140 miles with 12,000ft of climbing for good measure. New for this year is the Dragon Devil, which at 300km went one step further again. Although tempted, I wasn't sure I was up for it this year, but fellow Cyclosport writer, Caven did ride it - read about his experience here. 

The plan was to drive down to the Port Talbot area on Saturday ready for an early start - our allocated slot was 7:40. We found a B&B 20 minutes away - the Ty Lily Mia in Tonypandy - run by Alun, who provides motorcycle tours of the south Wales area. This had the advantage of a secure bike lockup which was handy. We weren't the only ones either, as all but two residents were also riding the Dragon. Alun had left out bread and porridge the night before; a nice touch as the room rate didn't include breakfast. 

All sorted and bikes retrieved, we left at 7am for the short drive to Margam Park, the picturesque HQ for the event. However, once at the motorway exit just two miles from the site, the queue started. I guess it's one of those things that can't be helped, but some traffic management on the island would have helped. There did appear to be two marshals, but they didn't look too keen on actually sorting anything out. Anyway, nearly an hour later we were in, and then sent to separate car parks from each other! 

Scenic car park 

Apprehensive 

Once sorted and back together, we crossed the start line at 8:22. After heading through Port Talbot the legs got their first taste of Welsh mountains on the Bwlch. A feature climb of Dragon's past, it was a nice introduction to the way the day would go. We have some tasty climbs in Shropshire, but nothing as long as these, so it was a bit of an unknown as to how to tackle them. They do however, suit me; I'm a competent climber but as a big diesel unit fare better on these shallower (but lengthy) climbs. 

The scenery had changed somewhat now from industrial to pleasant countryside, which made the climb all the easier. I love climbing, but the descent, as with many others today, was epic. As free flowing and well sighted as the way up, working together to draft one another was some of the best fun on a bike I've ever had. 

Climbing the Bwlch 

Down, at speed 

To continue reading, click below