Velothon returns to Caerphilly as riders thank locals for support

More than 8,000 riders returned to the Caerphilly county borough on Sunday, 8 July, as Velothon Wales passed through the county on one of the hottest days of the year.

Crowds greeted and supported the riders from Hafodyrynys all the way down to the notorious Caerphilly Mountain climb, where riders were met by hundreds of spectators.

The biggest closed-road event of its kind in Wales was making its fourth appearance and the sportive has now welcomed more than 35,000 cycling enthusiasts since 2015.

Cyclists taking on the challenging 140k and 125k courses started off from Cardiff, heading east towards Newport, before taking on the Tumble climb in Blaenavon. The challenging endurance event was made even tougher by the 27C heat.

Organisers provided an additional 10,000 litres of water on the day in an attempt to limit the impact the heat had on riders.

The Caerphilly Mountain climb is regarded as one of the toughest in Wales. With a gradient of 20% and an elevation gain of 133 metres, the category-4 climb came before the descent into Cardiff and the finish. For many riders, this came after many hours of cycling in the midday heat.

Local communities were more than ready to support the riders however, with reports of hosepipes being used to cool cyclists down, and improvised refuelling stations supplying sweets, welsh cakes and water.

Thank u to the locals around South Wales, Caerphilly, Newbridge, Usk, Blaenavon, diff for fab support around @Velothon Hose pipes to cool us down. Haribo water handed out. Cheers, clapping, words of encouragement, decorations. Really makes a difference.

— Lex ???? (@Lex21) July 8, 2018

Support along the route was ??? Really helped me to dig deep for Caerphilly Mountain. Also a Big Thank You to those with hoses out! ???????????????? #VELATHONWales

— Ian Humphreys (@IantsOnHisBike) July 9, 2018

@Velothon From those with free drinks & treats to those with hose pipe spraying you down as you past, the cowbell ringers & the supportive shouts, especially near the top of the Caerphilly climb, thank you all

— Robin H Featherstone (@Robin1964) July 9, 2018

Run 4 Wales Chief Executive Matt Newman said: “In Sunday’s searing heat, riders needed every bit of extra motivation to get them along the challenging courses and over the finish line in Cardiff city centre.

“They may have been forgiven for thinking the hard work was done after they conquered the Tumble, but the 1.4km climb up Caerphilly Mountain was the final hurdle before they could set their sights on completing Velothon Wales 2018.

“They were roared on by an army of supporters, some who went the extra mile to ensure every participant had an unforgettable experience. One little girl in particular embodied the community spirit by giving her time and effort to make homemade lemonade for the riders, who gratefully drank it down to fuel up for the final few kilometres.

“I would like to thank the Caerphilly community for supporting Velothon Wales and being patient with any disruption they may have experienced due to the road closures that make this event truly unique.”