Dragon Ride Gran Fondo — Full Season Training Plan (January to June),
A complete 24-week training plan built specifically for the Dragon Ride Gran Fondo — 222km and 3,583m of climbing through the Brecon Beacons, taking on The Bwlch, Rhigos, Penderyn Moor, Devil's Elbow, Glynneath Hill, Bwlch Bryn Duon, Black Mountain, and Cimla Hill.
Designed to start in January, right when most riders are looking to kick off their season, this plan takes you from an off-season reset through to race-day readiness in four clear blocks:
Foundation & Reset (Weeks 1-8) — Rebuilds aerobic fitness gently after the Christmas break, with progressive volume and general strength and conditioning work to build
the resilience the later blocks will demand. Forgiving by design, so it's realistic for riders coming back from time off the bike.
Build: Sustained Climbing & Threshold (Weeks 9-12) — Introduces climbing-specific sweet-spot and threshold sessions targeting the route's two long, shallow drags (Penderyn Moor and Black Mountain), plus shorter, sharper efforts for the steeper late-route climbs, Glynneath Hill and Cimla Hill.
Specific Preparation: Distance + Climbing Combo (Weeks 13-18) — Long rides building progressively toward 5.5-6.5 hours with 3,000m+ of vertical gain, combined with fuelling and pacing rehearsal for a genuine 200km+ day in the saddle.
Peak & Taper (Weeks 19-24) — A final peak long ride followed by a structured taper, bringing you to the start line fresh and ready.
Built by a British Cycling and TrainingPeaks Level 3 accredited coach, this plan is for intermediate to advanced cyclists who want a genuine, event-specific structure rather than a generic climbing plan — every key session is built around the actual climbs you'll face on the day.
Hi, my name is Colin from Tried and Tested Cycle Coaching. I've been cycling for 15+ years and my primary focus has been on the road, both in terms of road racing and time trials with a high degree of success. I've learnt a lot in those years from reading and studying the science and from listening to others, that journey never stops. I still enjoy racing at a high level in the amateur ranks as a master and I'm now looking to pass on that knowledge and help others achieve their goals.