Dragon Ride: routes, climbs and how to prepare
- Distance
- 296 km
- Climbing
- 3,903 m
- Highest point
- 528 m
- Categorised climbs
- 21 · up to 19 %
- Shape
- Loop
Measured on the course you ride in Cycloscape. The organiser's own figures are below.
Elevation profile
6–528 m · 21 categorised climbsThe 6 biggest of 21 categorised climbs, in the order you ride them.
The Dragon Ride is a sportive through the valleys and mountains of South Wales, starting from Margam Park, Port Talbot. For 2027 the organiser lists four routes, the longest being the Gran Fondo of 222 km with 3,583 m of climbing and the Dragon Devil of 298 km. The key climbs are the Bwlch, the Rhigos and the Devil's Elbow. It is held in mid-June; the exact 2027 date has not been confirmed.
Dragon Ride at a glance
- Where
- Margam Park, Port Talbot, Wales, United Kingdom
- Official website
- dragonride.co.uk ↗
- Next edition
- Date to be confirmed by the organiser
- Routes
- Dragon Devil: 298 km · Gran Fondo: 222 km, 3,583 m climbing
- Terrain
- Hilly — repeated climbs
- Facts checked
- 4 November 2026, against the sources below
Full preparation and course training require Event Coach Pro.
Ride the real course on your trainer. The route of Dragon Ride, 296 km, as a 3D world, with your trainer following its gradients — any day, and as part of your Event Coach plan. Part of Cycloscape Pro.
The routes
The Dragon Ride offers 2 routes.
| Route | Distance | Climbing |
|---|---|---|
| Dragon Devil | 298 km | — |
| Gran Fondo | 222 km | 3,583 m |
What the course asks of you
The Welsh climbs rise out of the old mining valleys onto open moorland: the Bwlch and the Rhigos are long, steady climbs with wide views, exposed to wind and rain; the Devil's Elbow is short and very steep.
Welsh June weather can turn quickly. Pace the long climbs steadily, keep a rain jacket, and stay in a group on the valley roads between the climbs.
How to prepare
The general shape of a good preparation, which Event Coach turns into a plan for your fitness, time and date:
- Train repeated climbs: several efforts of 8 to 15 minutes close to your threshold, with short recoveries, copy the rhythm of the Dragon Ride.
- Build the long ride towards 298 km, so the final climbs are not the first time your legs have been out that long.
- Add a few short efforts at low cadence on steep gradients, for the ramps that come late in the day.
Pacing mistakes to avoid
The mistakes that cost riders the most on a day like this:
- Answering every climb of the Dragon Ride with a surge: repeated climbs reward an even effort, not a burst on each ramp.
- Spending the most on the famous climb when the hardest part of the day is still to come.
- Letting the pace of the group on the flat decide how tired you arrive at the climbs.
Prepare the Dragon Ride with Cycloscape
Tell Event Coach you are doing the Dragon Ride, your route and what you want from the day, and it builds your preparation: structured workouts held by your trainer in ERG, Race Pacing for how to spend your effort, and Performance Lab to see whether the work is landing. Full preparation and course training require Event Coach Pro.
Frequently asked
When is the Dragon Ride?
The organiser has not announced the next edition's date yet. Event Coach lets you set your own target date until it does.
How long are the routes of the Dragon Ride?
Dragon Devil: 298 km; Gran Fondo: 222 km with 3,583 m of climbing. The 2027 entry routes as the organiser lists them; the organiser notes the routes are yet to be confirmed.
How many riders take part?
About 4,800 riders in 2026.
Can I ride the course of the Dragon Ride in Cycloscape?
Yes, inside Event Coach with Cycloscape Pro: once you start your preparation, the course is ridden on your trainer as part of the plan.