Welsh Wild West Sportive - Aberystwyth Cycle Festival

After the urban based Cycle Festival events of Friday and Saturday, it's time to get out into the countryside and relax on Sunday 25th May. Explore the challenging local terrain on one of three routes which provide something for everyone. Whether you're an experienced cyclist looking to take on the challenging 'Cawr' or 'Mynach' rides, or perhaps fancy a more relaxing tour of Ceredigion on the 'Corach', you'll be sure of one thing - one of the most spectacular rides in Great Britain!

Check out our 2014 event promo video here :

Whilst the professionals display their talents on the evening of the 24th in the Pearl Izumi Tour Series race, and on Saturday 25th at the Urban 'Conquer the Cliff; downhill event, Sunday is the day for one of the most idylic sportives in the UK.

Riders on the 2014 Continental Welsh Wild West sportive will have the added experience of cresting the historical 'Hafod Arch' on one of the routes major climbs. This three kilometre slog from Devils Bridge towards Cwmystwyth is one of the highlights of the sportive which takes place on Sunday May 25^th, entirely within the county limits of Ceredigion in Mid Wales.

Picture courtesy of Douglas Law

Both the 62 mile Mynach (Monk) and 103 mile Cawr (Giant) routes will summit the 'Arch', last used in a professional bike race at the 1989 professional Tour of Wales as a King of the Mountain (KoM) point on the B4574 road. 

Built by Thomas Johnes of Hafod in 1810 to mark the Golden Jubilee of George III, the old masonry arch spans the road at mile 35 of the sportive routes and marks the spot for a new KoM for the event and also marks the second feed of the day at the Forestry Centre car park, an immediate left after cresting the summit at 1312 feet and climbing at an average gradient of 6%.

Riders will be given a time split for riding 'Up the Arch' as part of their overall result, with spot prizes on offer.

Both 62 & 103 mile routes also tackle the infamous 'Nant y Moch' climb early on in the sportive, a 3 ½ mile ascent of unclassified roads with only sheep & cattle grids for company.

The longer Cawr route eventually peels away south, via Tregaron, Lampeter and Talsarn where the infamous 'Tychrug' climb is tackled, a 2.3 miler which climbs to 1,104 feet.

The final sting in the tail is again a steady 3.2 miler at Llanfihangel y Creuddyn. The 4.9% climb up to 848 feet will tell on rider's legs which will already have 84 miles in them by this time.

Mynach route profile (62 miles) Google Earth route link here 

Cawr route profile (103 miles) Google Earth link here 

The event is fully supported by sponsors Continental Tyres.  Four service vehicles plus two branded BMW motorbikes will be provided for a quick response to any riders with technical issues. All turns & junctions are marshalled and three feed stations will provide the necessary energy drinks and gels, not to mention Bara Brith and Welsh cakes!

The Welsh Wild West Sportive cycle ride took in some stunning Ceredigion coastal scenery

Timing is provided by HS Sports and the event is fully sanctioned by British Cycling and online entry is provided on their website via this link.

"I am sure you will have had lots of emails on this, but I just wanted to add my congrats to the organisation team and volunteers on putting on a great event. We were blessed with good organisation, great weather and Marshals that did a truly outstanding job. I have no doubt that the people will be talking of this for weeks to come and what a great event it was. Great to see such a high turnout from the club as well. I had a great ride on the 60 odd miler and did some great prep for the C2C in a few weeks. 

Again my thanks to you and the organising committee for all your hard work and my congratulations to everyone involved in making the event such an outstanding success. 

Thanks again"

Dominic Brown - BA Hons, MBCS, PGCE /PCET Student

"Llongyfarchiadau ar benwythnos llwyddiannus iawn. Da iawn. Nes i fwynhau cael mynd fyny Nant y Moch eto !"

(Congratulations on a brilliantly successful weekend. I enjoyed the climb of Nant y Moch again!)

Meirion Davies - Bethesda

"What a fantastic event this was my first ever sportive 106 miles and to my astonishment I managed without getting off the bike once even on the 16% hill 94miles in thanks to everyone who organised it all and the feed stations what a life saver  they were"

Phil Paul - Newtown 

"Hello, I just wanted to say thank you for the wonderful time I had watching the racing at the weekend, was really good being able to watch a downhill race in my own town, was well organized, a really good atmosphere and thoroughly enjoyable, so big thanks and hope to see you back next year."

Nico Harrison

 "I would just like to say a big thank you to all of the people above and all of the people who haven't been mentioned for their contribution to what was an amazing weekend. The organisation was excellent, the marshals and helpers were very friendly and supportive (It's amazing what a smiling face and a few claps can do as you are struggling up Penglais after a few hundred yards).

 For me it was an amazing spectacle culminating in the sportive on Sunday. The events showed off Aberystwyth and Ceredigion in all their glory. I'm sure it will go from strength to strength."

Simon Ward

"A brilliantly organised event. Lots of marshals lining the course who were all very friendly. The food stop was well stocked with energy drink, gels, flapjacks/cakes and helpful marshals. The scenic route was one of the best I've done. Quiet roads but all in very good condition surface wise. Ample signs and very well organised for such a small event which will hopefully grow. I did the middle distance event at 65 miles. Lots of good climbs and descents as you'd expect in Wales. Will be back next year."

'Bakers' (Cyclosport.org)

"A big thank you to all the volunteers and team that were involved in making the Cycle Fest a success. See you next year."

Ian Ramsbottom

"Some awesome scenery on the @TourSeriesAber sportive ride with @liam_holohan. Thanks for the invite @ContiTyres #sun pic.twitter.com/kfqybjpNFU"

Dean Downing (Madison-Genesis professional cycling team)

"Some lovely cycling roads at the @AberCycleFest sportive today. Fantastic support from @ContiTyres . Put it in your diary for next year!"

Liam Holohan (Madison-Genesis professional cycling team)