GRAEAN CYMRU
22nd September 2024 | Llyn Brenig
Route
113km | 2,071m
Medium Route
49km | 800m
Route
113km | 2,071m
OVERVIEW
NEED TO KNOW
The route
accommodation
PACKING LIST
FAQs
GRAEAN CYMRU: OVERVIEW
The UCI Gravel World Series comes to Wales! One of the final qualifiers for the 2024 UCI Gravel World Championships in Belgium, take on this epic 113km course in beautiful North Wales.
Started on the shores of Llyn Brenig, this ride includes a loop of the reservoir before heading onto the smooth gravel roads of Clocaenog Forest with a few punchy climbs and fast, flowing sections before a unique 1km finish straight by the reservoir – one of the most picturesque finishes in the World Series.
The countryside & rolling hills of Denbighshire makes the perfect backdrop for
RACE HIGHLIGHTS
- The premier gravel race in Wales
- Closed road / trail racing on the epic gravel of Clocaenog Forest
- One of the most picturesque finishes of the UCI Gravel World Series with a 1km finish straight on the shores of Llyn Brenig.
KNOW BEFORE YOU RACE
Qualify for the uci world champs
As per the official qualification system for the 2024 UCI Gravel World Championships, each TREK UCI Gravel World Series event grants qualification rights for the UCI Gravel World Championships for those riders finishing in the first 25% of their category. The 25% is calculated based on the number of starters in each category, and not on the number of riders who finish.
STARTING GRIDS & ELITE RIDERS
You will be starting in age groups based on your age on Dec 31st 2024.
Elite riders from a UCI registered team must always take part in the elite category. Elite riders with a national level license have the choice to start in the elite category or in their respective age groups but must make that choice prior to the race.
Riders signing up for the elite category can only qualify for the elite category at the UCI Gravel World Championships. Riders signing up for the age group categories can only qualify for the age group categories at the UCI Gravel World Championships. If a rider who started with the elites didn’t qualify in the elite category, they can’t claim qualification in his age group if their finish time would be within the top 25% of his age category.
A REMOTE ROUTE A REAL MIX
The route starts and finishes at Llyn Brenig (approx 30 mins from Ruthin.
Large parts of the route are remote with no phone signal.
The race is two laps of a 57km course going around the reservoir (Llyn Brenig) and then a long & rolling section in Clocaenog Forest.
Expect a mix of terrain and a few sections of singletrack among the wider gravel fire roads.
PARKING & REGISTRATION
You can collect your race number either the afternoon before (Sept 21st) or just before your race at Llyn Brenig Visitors Centre.
Due to the remote location of the ride, parking is very limited. You will be assigned a parking space & time either at the visitors centre or at a location nearby.
The podium and race village is at Llyn Brenig Visitor Centre (Cerrigydrudion, Conwy LL21 9TT) where there are toilets, a mechanic stand, bike wash & food options.
There will be one feed stop on the route (58km) and several points along the route with mechanics & paramedics to support our riders.
Included in Entry
Fully Signed Route
Our team work tirelessly to create the best gravel routes in the UK. All courses are fully signed so you can just enjoy the ride.
Checkpoints with Proper Food
An epic ride deserves proper support. We have tea, coffee and cake at the first feed and sandwiches & crisps at the main feed. Checkpoints are approx every 30 - 35km
Accurate GPX Files
A few days before the ride, we will send GPX files for all of the route options so you can follow the course on your GPS as well as the signs.
Mechanics Available
At the rider village & at selected feed stops we have mechanics available to help with any bike issues. We also have spare inner tubes, CO2 & more .
Rider Support Vans
We are here to make sure you have a great day on the gravel. If you have any major mechanicals or need collecting, support vehicles are a phone call away.
Beer at Finish Line
You will be greeted at the finish line with a beer & food available from our food truck. Perfect to chat about your day with fellow riders.
EVENT PROGRAM
21st Sept: Option to Collect Ride Numbers at Llyn Brenig Visitor Centre.
22nd Sept – 7.00am: Race village at Llyn Brenig Visitors Centre opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
22nd Sept – 7.30am to 7.45am: Elite (Men & Women) and age groups 19-34 & 35-39 (men & women) race starts.
22nd Sept – 12.30pm: Last finishing time for early starts (there is a cut off time at 72km)
22nd Sept – 1.15 to 1.45pm: Start time for all other categories (we set groups off every 2 mins)
THE ROUTE
Starting on the shores of Llyn Brenig, we have a short (1km) neutral start to get out of the visitor centre and then head off around the reservoir.
Fairly soon into the circuit there is some singletrack and a short climb before a long flat section along the reservoir and then we head into the forest at 14km.
As soon as we turn away from the reservoir there is a punchy 1.5km climb and all of the 42km in Clocaenog Forest is up and down. At 56km we head back onto the reservoir for a 1km section across the dam which will be the finishing straight on the second lap.
There is a feed stop just after the visitor centre (59km) as well as drink stations positioned at the edge of the reservoir & another in the forest.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 99%
Distance:
113km
Elevation:
2071m
THE LOCAL AREA
Our ride takes us into two counties – most of the route is in Denbighshire & the western part of the reservoir is in Gwynedd.
This is a beautiful part of Wales with excellent options for all types of cycling (road, MTB, gravel & a velodrome coming soon to Ruthin). More info on cycling options HERE.
There are also plenty of choices for great hikes in the area. This is a great resource for local hikes HERE.
The north coast is just over 30 mins away with sandy beaches and ancient castles. The nearby market towns of Denbigh & Ruthin are also definitely worth a visit.
Llyn Brenig itself has plenty of things to do for non-riders. The visitor centre has info on local walks, watersports & attractions nearby.
ACCOMMODATION
Come for the race, stay for the warm local hospitality and beautiful countryside!
There are plenty of hotels & campsites in nearby Ruthin including:
Lyons Woodlands Hall Hotel & Caravan Park
LOCAL RESIDENTS
We are very proud to bring this world class event to Denbighshire and have worked hard with the local authorities to maximise the benefit to the community & minimise the inconveniences.
If you have a local business you would like us to promote to our visiting riders or you want to learn more about the schedule for the day road closures, please complete this form and we will get back to you asap.
Bike Selection & Packing List
Bike Choice: The route is designed for gravel bikes with 99% of the route being off road.
Tyre Choice: We will send an update on conditions closer to the ride. The gravel is mostly smooth throughout so a fast rolling or all rounder 35mm to 40mm tyre should be ideal.
Packing List: Bring equipment to be self sufficient on the route (inner tubes, sealant, multi-tool, pump or CO2, foil blanket etc).
Clothing: Likely to be fresh at this time of the year particularly early morning so layer up accordingly. Helmets are mandatory, you will not be able to ride without one.
FAQs
Monday 21 October: Arrival Transfers at 10.30am for arrivals at Sicily Palermo Airport before 10am; and 3.45pm for arrivals before 3pm. The transfer takes approximately 50 minutes.
Saturday 26 October: Departure Transfers at 7.45am for departures after 11am; and 11am for departures after 1.30pm. The transfer takes approximately 30 minutes.
In October daytime temperatures will range between 19-24°C, with variations depending on the region. Temperatures in the evenings and also the mountains will be cooler.
Gravel in Sicily is a unique mix of smooth gravel, broken road, rocky and technical sections and small back country lanes.
A gravel bike is ideal for this trip as it will cope well with the varied terrain on the route.
we suggest a wider tyres, over 42mm, will be ideal as they will offer comfort and stability on the rockier and more technical sections, and still be fast rolling on the country lanes. A gravel tread also works well, although you may wish to choose a tyre with more grip.
Remember to cycle on the right-hand side of the road and take care on any road sections, particularly in and around towns, as roads can be quite busy.
Currency – Euro
Electricity – power plugs and sockets of type G are used. The standard voltage is 240 V.
Visa requirements – There are no visa requirements for Sicily, however you must hold a passport valid at least six months on entry with two blank pages and issued in the previous 10 years.
Language – Italian
Time zone – GMT +1
Is tap water drinkable? Yes, tap water in Sicily is generally safe to drink. There any many water fountains on route, just avoid any that say ‘aqua non potable’.
We will have bikes to rent soon for this trip. Our local partner has a great fleet of Focus gravel bikes available for £199.