IN only a matter of weeks pedal power and lycra will be back in vogue as the Abergavenny Festival of Cycling saddles up and hits the road once again.

This year's Festival, which incorporates the Iron Mountain Sportif (participation rides for all), will again include the famous Tumble climb between Abergavenny and Blaenavon.

Organiser Bill Owen has also worked with Abergavenny Town Council to incorporate the Sportif into the town Carnival celebrations at Bailey Park.

This means that anyone entering the bronze, silver or gold Sportif rides will gain access to Bailey Park for the Carnival festivities

"There are a lot of other benefits with the entry, " said Owen, who, 12 months ago, brought the biggest stars of British cycling to Abergavenny for the National Championships over which course this year's Sportif is being run.

"As well as entry to Bailey Park, riders will get food and refreshments at the feeding stations we will be manning around the courses.

"This is the chance for people to ride part of the course where Tour de France riders like Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish and Geraint Thomas rode 12 months ago.

"The Iron Mountain Sportif is beginning to grow bigger and better every year, and we hope for another great entry list this year."

"It will be great for visitors here in Abergavenny to ride the National Championships course but it is not all for the experienced riders.

"They will be able to tackle the 100 miles event but the 25 miles circuit and 50 miles ride provide excellent challenges for beginners and leisure riders of all abilities.

"Families have also enjoyed riding together around the beautiful Monmouthshire scenery in the past years since the Iron Mountain Sportif was first held

"We have events for everyone on the day. The Bronze Ride is a 25 mile event on easy routes, the Silver Ride is a little more testing over 50 miles, while the Gold Ride - the only one to include the climb up The Tumble Mountain - is 100 miles."

The Bronze event will see riders enjoying the flatlands of Monmouthshire which take in Raglan before returning along the Usk Valley.

Riders on the Silver and Gold event will leave Abergavenny and go out towards Monmouth and then Raglan. Then they will turn south towards Chepstow before riding through the forests of the Wye Valley, past historic Tintern, famous for its' medieval Abbey, and head north alongside the River Wye.

The riders then return to the forests and onto the ridge towards Trelleck before descending down towards Monmouth.

They then take the picturesque route back to Abergavenny through the village of Hendre over some undulating roads and past the Rolls estate, owned by the ancestors of Mr Charles Rolls - of Rolls Royce fame.

Riders then cross the finish line in Bailey Park, Abergavenny, to enjoy the town's carnival which will be taking place on the same day.

Those going on the Gold ride, however, will not be able to dismount their bikes as quickly as the 50-milers as they will be only half-way around their course.

After returning to Abergavenny along the same route as the Silver ride, they will climb up the Iron Mountain - The Tumble - and then into the countryside of South Powys and onto the Brecon Beacons and Llangnider.

Then, after crossing the packhorse bridge alongside the River Usk, they pass Llangorse Lake before a final climb at Talgarth and then a fast and relieving descent to the finish line through Crickhowell and into Abergavenny.