Category: Events

The Yorkshire Dales: as brutal in terrain as they are beautiful. The magnificent (and magnificently tough) Etap du Dales, with its race HQ at Wharfedale Rugby Club,?Grassington? (map here) promises riders an uncompromising challenge with 112miles of ride that takes in the major climbs in the Yorkshire Dales which also means innumerable steep and technical descents to boot. As the organisers are quick to point out: ‘Please do not treat your entry lightly, remember to respect the challenge… (it) requires an excellent level of fitness.’ You have been warned.

Held to support the excellent Dave Rayner Fund, the two riders who raise the most money through sponsorship will receive two free tickets for the Dave Rayner Fund Annual Dinner. After those hills, we can only hope it’s an all-you-can-eat-buffet.

HQ opens on the day at 6.15am with riders allowed away in waves of 20 at five-minute intervals from 6.30am on a first come basis. There is an entry limit of 970, with places costing £40; technically 2013 is already fully booked – but with such a challenging sportive on offer, still well worth contacting organisers for cancellations. Further details and entry information at daveraynerfund.co.uk

The Peaks Challenge is an outstanding opportunity to enjoy the spectacular open scenery of the Peaks and to raise money for Orchid Male Cancer Care, which aims to save men’s lives from testicular, prostate and penile cancers through pioneering research and promoting awareness. Taking in hills, dales and (on the dedicated 14mile family route) traffic-free cycle paths – as well as some of the prettiest villages in Derbyshire, such as Ilam, Chelmorton, Elton and Tissington. The longer, medium route at 35miles offers a choice of all on-road or part road/part off-road options and the longest route (49miles) is all on-road and aimed at more dedicated sportive riders. All three use Ashbourne Recreation Ground as HQ (map here) with flexible start times between 8 and 9am at a time to suit you. Official refreshment stops offer free water refills, but paid-for snacks.

Minimum age is 16 years on the 49miler, 14 years on the 35mile route and 10 years on the family 14miler; riders under 16 must be accompanied by an adult over 18. Entry prices vary from £4 for a child on the family ride to £17 adult entry on the longer routes – team entry packs at £16.50 per-person are available for teams of 6 or more. Full details and online entry at bike-events.com

This ever-popular event features rides of 30, 60 or 70miles through the pretty villages and (hopefully) spring-like countryside of South Oxfordshire, the market town of Abingdon and into the Vale of the White Horse. With HQ at Harwell Oxford (map here) and a relaxed start-off time of your choice between 8 and 10am, the signed, marshalled, routes follow quiet back roads wherever possible (with occasionally cycle paths) and refreshment stops to refill bottles. Mech and first aid also on hand and all for £17.50 (£17 for Team Entry 6+ riders) or £7.50 for children aged 12-14.

The event is staged in aid of Against Breast Cancer (againstbreastcancer.org.uk) so get fund raising and enjoy the Classic Oxfordshire Bike Ride in the knowledge that you have also helped this worthwhile charity. Further details and online entry at bike-events.com

HotChillee’s One Day Sportive is open to anyone willing to take on the challenge of some of the roads ridden by the likes of Wiggins and Cavendish during the 2012 Olympic Road Race. It will also take riders over the testing North Downs, including Coomb Bottom and White Down and over the highest point in Surrey, Leith Hill.

In addition to the 37miles ‘Short Route’ and 68mile ‘Standard Route’, the 83mile ‘Epic Route’ takes riders away from the event centre, located at Imber Court Sports Club in Surrey (map here), through Cobham Park to take on the North Downs with some tough climbs over the Pilgrims Way and then descending near Pitch Hill. From here the route turns into a more comfortable rolling course as it weaves over the Wey and Arun Canal to the turning point of Kirford. This flatter “lower weald” has pretty villages which frame the ride on the way back to the Downs. The climb up over White Down and Poleden Lacey leads back to Cobham Park, and then onward to the event centre where the reward of achievement as you complete this challenge awaits each rider.

Entry fees – The Epic and Standard Routes, £38 and Short Route, £20 – include: mechanical support, full route marking, chip timing, bike wash facilities, Sag wagon, on-site catering and free event photography. Registration opens at 6.45am and the start time is ranged 7.15 – 9.00am. For those participating in HotChillee The London-Paris or Alpine Challenge multi-stage events, the times participants achieve for this one day sportive will be used to seed them into the appropriate speed groups.

For online entry see: riderhq.com