Well-known cyclist and author of the 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs books, Simon Warren, has created an EXCLUSIVE guide to the hills of South Wales that feature on the route of the iconic Dragon Ride cycling event.

Entitled Cycling Climbs of the Dragon Ride, Simon describes some of Wales’ most iconic roads including Rhigos, The Bwlch and The Devil’s Elbow. Taking place on Sunday 10 June 2018, this bucket-list event for avid cyclists saw riders take on routes from 100km right up to the Dragon Devil at 305km, tackling up to 5,000m of climbing in one day.

Simon says: “This event is rightly considered one of the most challenging one-day cycling events in the UK, and is reminiscent of some of the most arduous Tour de France stages. Enjoy the unique character of each climb, soak up the scenery they take you through, and relish the challenge of beating these famous roads.”

Luke Rowe, Team Sky Professional and part of Rowe & King cycle coaching company, will be sharing tips throughout November on how to attack some of the key climbs.

Luke says: “Hill climbing is all in the mind. To take your climbing to the next level it is important to understand the technical elements of each hill and train accordingly. We are excited to help prepare you for the Dragon Ride. There is a lot of technique involved in climbing hills – it’s far more than just producing a lot of power. Knowing when to push harder and when to recover are all key – along with pace, judgement and preparation. Having the right gear ratios on your bike is fundamental.”

Ahead of the Dragon Ride event, Rowe & King ran a training weekend on 7 – 8 April 2018, allowing riders to experience the actual training methods of professional cyclists.