Starting from Brecon Leisure Centre (map here) the Brecon Devil Sportive – one of the many devilishly-themed rides from Red Kite Events offers 43mile, 66mile and a 98mile route options around the quiet roads north of Brecon. The gorgeous backdrop of the Welsh mountains promises to take the mind off the challenge, which is rarely less than undulating – the go-to cycling euphemism that always means ‘hillier than you hoped’.
The 43mile Brecon Devil Sportive route covers 1,722 metres of ascent taking in the climbs of Llandyfalle Hill, Waun Hirwaun, The Eppynt and the easy rolling roads back to Brecon, whilst the 66-miler ups the game to 2,450 metres of climbing taking in same climbs as the 43mile route, but adding in the rolling roads around Abergeswyn and Llanwrtyd Wells. The 98mile option (4083 metres of climbing) takes in the same climbs as the other routes but then adds the Devil’s Staircase (a classic, brutal climb with two hairpins), plus the tough climbs around Llyn Briane before the climb from Cyngordy up to Crychan Forest.
The food stops – one on the 43miler and two on both the 66 and 98milers – will be supported by High 5 and The Drovers Rest Restaurant. Entry to all three distances is £25 until August 31, £30 from September 1 until closing 7 days before the event. Further details and online entry for the Brecon Devil Sportive at redkite-events.co.uk
