RIDERS are gearing up for the return of the Iron Mountain Sportif at this year’s Abergavenny Festival of Cycling.

The Iron Mountain Sportif took a break for last year’s National Road Championships around Monmouthshire, but now it has returned with new and exciting challenges for riders to try.

Organiser Bill Owen has devised five rides for everyone from beginners and families to challenging routes that mirror the route taken during the 2009 National Championships which was centred on Abergavenny and included Tour de France winners Chris Froome and Sir Bradley Wiggins.

Owen said, "Why not do something really amazing this year and challenge yourself to ride in support of a local charity. We are continuing to support the North Gwent Cardiac Rehabilitation, because, as one of their first clients I am exceedingly grateful for their help in regaining a normal life.  

"We have continued with the three rides over 20 miles, 50 miles and one hundred miles.

"But this year, we have added another 50 miles and a women only 40-miles ride which we are excited about.

"The original 50-miles Monmouthshire Sportif will see cyclists tackling the undulating roads from Abergavenny to Monmouth and returning to Bailey Park in Abergavenny.

"However, the new Iron Mountain Sportif will allow riders to tackle the most famous climb in Welsh cycling and ride the second part of the 100 route. We have introduced this after feedback from riders who would have liked to have ridden up the Tumble Mountain but did not want to ride the first 50 miles of the one hundred miles Sportif beforehand.

"And the women’s only Sportif has been introduced so that ladies can enjoy riding their bikes with their female friends."

The Leisure rides and the Iron Mountain 100 Sportif have been very popular in previous years and continue to be in 2015. The Leisure ride is over 20 miles, and begins in Bailey Park and takes riders near Usk at Llancayo and then returning to Bailey Park.

The Iron Mountain 100 takes riders out to Monmouth and back to Abergavenny as with the 50 miles event and then adds the climb up the Tumble Mountain and a cruise around South Powys and north Monmouthshire.

The 2015 Iron Mountain Sportif is also backed by some of the best event support in the country, with feed station facilities with toilets, showering and changing facilities and a call-out service for on-road emergency bike repairs. 

There will be a fully manned emergency control room with two motor cycle medibike responders out on the course. At the start and finish M&D Cycles will be on hand to attend to any bike problems while the Grand Prix neutral service cars of Brother/Shimano will be out on the course.

To enter any of the five rides in the 2015 Iron Mountain Sportif, towww.abergavennyfestivalofcycling.co.uk to book a place.