Organisers planning monster route out of Margam for Olympic year.

As announced last month the start/finish venue for the 2012 Wiggle Dragon Ride will be Margam Park, near Port Talbot, South Wales. Margam Park is situated just a few miles from M4 junction 38.

The move further west to Margam has allowed organisers to look at some climbs that the Dragon hasn't used before and the re-introduction of an old favourite they've not used since 2007.

So for 2012 the Gran Fondo route will include the climb of the Black Mountain and the return of the "hill with no name", (Bryn Melyn or Devil's Elbow), in the middle of the Brecon Beacons. These ascents will be scaled in addition to the signature climbs of the Bwlch and Rhigos plus Cimla and Cray - all run in the opposite direction compared to recent years. All in all a much more challenging route than organisers ever used in the past with a considerable increase in the amount of climbing but with only a slight increase in distance.

The Medio Fondo will include Cimla, the Rhigos and the Bwlch as well as Coelbren and Glynneath Bank; once again the amount of climbing is increased with yet again slightly more distance. The Corto Route will essentially be a circuit of Margam Mountain at 37km and 430m of climbing.

Full route details, maps and profiles can be viewed on the route page of Wiggle Dragon Ride website: http://www.wiggledragonride.com/route.php