Local Ironman puts Welshpool Tour de France leg to the test

With a year to go until Welshpool hosts the third day of the Tour de France on July 4, 2027, one local ironman has tried out the challenging 224km route.

Dylan Walton (pictured fourth from right above and right), from Leighton, was one of a group of athletes who train under DC Triathlon and is limbering up for his next challenge – the Ironman Leeds in August.

He warmed up with a Sunday ride alongside his stablemates that took them from Welshpool to Cardiff Castle – a total of 140 miles that will test the world’s best cyclists next summer.

“The route is fantastic, and really shows how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful part of the world,” said Dylan, who has completed two previous Ironman challenges.

His coach David Cole explained: “The elevation was around 10,000 feet (3,000m), so it was quite a challenging route.

“The route takes you from Welshpool through Llandrindod Wells, Builth Wells, Brecon, passing the Penderyn Whiskey distillery and climbing the Rhigos and out of Caerphilly.

“It’s a stunning route. It is challenging with a lot of difficult climbs and it was a brilliant day out for us.”

David added that the group took it easy on the route by riding at an average of around 16mph to complete the route in about 10 hours, including a couple of stops for food and water refills.

The Tour de France will bring thousands of people into the area for a quick economic boost that will see the region broadcasted to the world.