The Dragon Ride, one of the UK's most popular and challenging sportives, has joined forces with ASO in a deal that will see the south Wales event rebranded as Dragon Ride L'Etape Wales by le Tour de France. A limited number of additional places for the event have been released.
While the Dragon now features a name almost as long and testing as the sportive itself, traditionalists can rest easy: there's no word yet of any material changes to the much loved sportive following the partnership.
Commenting on the deal, Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme hailed the Dragon's "ideal sportive course":
"Following the extraordinary reception Le Tour de France riders enjoyed in the United Kingdom over the last few years, it is a true honour to bring Le Tour de France's spirit to Wales. This spirit of course remains in the passion for cycling and Le Tour de France itself but it is also linked to an ideal sportive course and Wales' incredible nature and landscapes. The Dragon Ride L'Etape Wales by Le Tour de France has a route reminiscent of one of Le Tour de France's most magnificent stages."
Previously sponsored by Wiggle, the new French-flavoured Dragon will take place this year on Sunday 15 June and features a choice of four routes:
- Macmillan 100 - 100km - £47.50
- Medio Fondo - 153km - £52.50
- Gran Fondo - 230km - £57.50
- Dragon Devil - 305km - £92.50
2016 also sees the return of the Dragon Tour, a three-day spree taking in some of the steepest hills in the region on roads too narrow for the masses on the one-day Dragon.
Entries to the Dragon regularly sell out, and the increased profile of the newly badged L'Etape Wales is likely to make it an even hotter ticket. To book your place, visit www.humanrace.co.uk.
0 Comments