Category: Events

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Gran Fondo Sri Lanka – April 5-7

Gran Fondo Sri LankaSince its inception in 2011 the UCI World Cycling Tour (UWCT) has encompassed stunning locations as diverse as Saint Tropez and Brazil, but 2013 sees this ‘cycling for all’ event set down in Sri Lanka, its first ever visit to Asia, and fuller details of the event have now been made known.

 

Running from April 5-7, the Gran Fondo Sri Lanka will be comprised of three events: The 110.4km Road Race will have a neutralised start at Galle Face Green in the capital Colombo, with the ‘real’ start at the 11.4km point in front of the Parliament; three feed-stations (49, 70 and 85km in addition to an early option water-only station at 27km) and just over 1000m of climb later and riders will wheel into the small town finish at Lellopitiya. Time Trial specialists will come into their own on the second day with the 17.6km TT – starting and finishing at Galle Face Green, looping on the flat via Marine Drive; whilst the third and final event is the 2.66km Criterium. Both the Road Race and TT are qualifying events for the UCI World Cycling Tour 2013 final, which will take place September 19-22 in Italy.

 

International registration for the Gran Fondo Sri Lanka is $99, which includes participation in all three events plus chip timing, mech and medical support, feed-stations, goodie bags, prize draws, after-ride lunch on the Road Race, Winner Ceremony lunch, expo and event entry and more besides. The event is expected to attract a field of around 500 (both local and international) and although riders can participate on either (easy to obtain) day licenses or an elite license those who ride with a UCI registered team or have competed at Olympic or World Cup levels are excluded, so you won’t have to worry about going toe-to-toe with, say, Cadel Evans.

 

Sri Lankan Christy Fernando, pictured above, is just one of the local riders looking to test his mettle against participants from around the world. Further details on the Gran Fondo Sri Lanka can be found at granfondosrilanka.com and on the wider UWCT series at uciworldcyclingtour.com

 

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Kent Velo Girls Women Only Sportive – April 14

Kent Velo Girls Women Only SportiveThis annual and ever-popular women only sportive, organised by the Kent Velo Girls – set up in 2008 to encourage women to take up road cycling and boasting more than 100 members – is now in its third year and likely to attract a capacity field. This is only ‘technically’ a women only event however – men are more than welcome to take part in any one of the three distances on offer (20,40, 60mile circular routes) on the proviso that they participate wearing pink; which sounds more than reasonable to Cyclo.

 

With a start/end HQ at Bewl Water, Lamberhurst, Kent map here) all riders will be away between 9 and 9.30am to tackle either the 20miler (barely 230m of climb and ideal for newcomers), the 40miler with four rewarding climbs or the 60, nicknamed the ‘brute of a route’, with it’s 700m+ of climb. Entry fee has again been held at just £25 with a donation from each entry going to the Kids Company charity (kidsco.org.uk), which provides practical, emotional and educational support to vulnerable inner-city children. In short, what’s not to like. A great choice of reasonably challenging, but accessible, routes in fine Kentish environs, a goodly donation to a worthy cause and an opportunity for the guys to break out their best pink cycling kit…

 

Further information at kentvelogirls.co.uk

 

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F3 Maxifuel Longest Day Sportive – April 13

Maxifuel Longest Day Sportive F3 have been delivering cycling, triathlon and running events on and around the Thames since 2006 and as most of their management team has raced at a high level in triathlon/cycling we reckon they might know a thing or two. Their Maxifuel Longest Day Sportive has certainly caught our eye; a choice of 90 or 180km (55/110miles) routes using the 2012 Olympic rowing venue at Dorney Lake as the start/end point, both options takes in some truly beautiful Berkshire and Buckinghamshire countryside. The terrain is rolling rather than serving up anything too terrifying in terms of either ascent or descent, the shorter route, for example, serves up 3500feet of elevation and both distances feature a smile-inducing 20% downhill around 25km from the finish line.

 

The course will be marked and supplemented with both route cards and GPS downloads ahead of the day and, although organisers make it clear that this is not a race, electronic chip timing is included. The Dorney Lake venue (map here) offers free parking plus massage, hot drinks, Maxifuel and Red Bull stands and music. The entry fee for the 90km sportive is £24.95 and the 180km option £29.95 – full details and online entry at f3events.co.uk

 

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Richardson’s Rumble Sportive – March 10

Richardson’s Rumble SportiveThe Richardson’s Rumble Sportive – or to give it its full and proper name, The Richardson’s Rumble Four Counties Challenge – has one straightforward and commendable aim: to give everyone a sporting chance at cracking the magic 100 in the saddle. But fear not, if 100miles still sounds too daunting the good people at Wheels in Wheels Events have also laid on a 100km option. Whichever you choose there will be help from start to finish; along with all the usual niceties of a ‘classic sportive’ – fully arrowed route, mech support, feed stations and broom wagon – for the less experienced riders and newcomers on the shorter route there will be road captains along on the ride who will take groups and pass on information on riding in groups, sportives in general and nutrition.

 

Registration will take place at the St Ivo Centre in St Ives, Cambridgeshire (map here) opening at 7.00am with the first riders on the 100miler away at 08.00am and 08.30am for the short route. Taking in four counties (hence, of course, the name) the route is described as being ‘on quiet roads without the mammoth climbs of other events,’ with all finishers receiving a food token for that all-important post-ride snack. Entry fee is £19.50 with full details and online entry at wheelsinwheels.com

 

For details of the headline sponsor the Richardsons Cycles Group (you’ll be starting and finishing outside of their St Ives shop) see richardsonsonline.co.uk

 

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Cape Rouleur March 3-7

cape rouleur hot chillee south african sportiveWhen HotChillee, the cycling events company behind the classic London-Paris and Alpine Challenge rides, announced the launch of their South African odyssey Cape Rouleur 2013, it was no surprise that places were so quickly snapped up. Comprised of a three days riding (two at 128km, plus 208km) that take participants through the stunning South African scenery in the Western Cape, over mountain passes such as Franschhoek, Viljeon’s and Houw Hoek, and through the Perdeberg National Reserve, there is in excess of 5000m of climbing to tackle and even then the hard work (and fun) isn’t over… A fourth day of ‘slightly more relaxed’ riding follows which includes a stop at Nitida Wine Farm before an escorted leg into central Cape Town as a ‘festive’ peloton of 150 riders by the Cape Town motor cycle police. Finally, signing up to the Cape Rouleur also includes seeded entry into the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, the world’s largest individually timed cycle race.

 

Why are we teasing you with all this when the event is already full? Two reasons – firstly it looks so spectacular that you’ll want to make a note of it for 2014, but also because the good people at HotChillee tell us that they have opened a reserve list for this year’s event. If you don’t ask, you don’t get. Full itinerary details and reserve list requests can be found at caperouleur.com

 

 

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The Burgess Hill Springtime Cyclosportive – March 3

The Burgess Hill Springtime CyclosportiveNow in its 6th year the Burgess Hill Springtime Classic Cyclosportive is a true test of fitness, combining exemplary support with testing climbs, exhilarating descents and generous feed stations. Three routes are on offer: the full 71miles with 3 feed stations,?the Challenge Ride at 53miles with 2 feed stations?and the Tour Ride at 35miles and 1 feed station; all use Burgess Hill in West Sussex as HQ and all three take in the beautiful countryside around Ashdown Forest with the longer route travelling into Kent and Surrey.

 

In addition to technical and first aid support (plus broom wagon for stragglers), the event includes goody bag, chip timing, energy and savory foods at feed stations, reduced-rate post-ride massage and the chance to relax (with further free snacks) and watch a selection of cycling films when all the hard work is done. Entry before March 3 is £28, after is £30, and if places are still available on-the-day entry will be £35. For further details and entry see: srs-events.cc Can’t decide if it’s the ride for you? Take a look at Alistair Cooper’s video of the 2011 edition below…

SRS Springtime Classic 2011 from Alistair Cooper on Vimeo.

 

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Miles for Smiles Hammer Sportive – April 14

Operation Smile Miles for Smiles Hammer SportiveIf you subscribe to the Simon & Garfunkel school of thought and would rather be a hammer than a nail, then Cyclo has just the sportive challenge for you. The Miles for Smiles Hammer Cycle Sportive takes place in the heart of South Hams, Devon, with two of the toughest sounding routes in the South of England to pick from. Option one is the Sledge Hammer – a 157km challenge boasting some 21 categorised climbs and a total elevation of 3,600m; clearly not for the faint hearted or wobbly-kneed. Easier, though only by comparison, is option two the Claw Hammer at 103km in length but still with over 2,000m of climbing. Both Hammers will let you test yourself to the limit whilst offering up dramatic coastal views, idyllic villages, stunning beaches and rolling countryside…

 

Want more? This is where the ‘Miles for Smiles’ bit comes in. All that cycling effort goes towards helping Operation Smile, an international children’s medical charity, working with a team of dedicated medical volunteers who provide safe, effective reconstructive surgery for children born with facial deformities such as cleft lip and cleft palate. Since 1982, with the help of over 5,000 dedicated medical volunteers, the charity has provided over 200,000 free surgical procedures to children and young adults around the world, giving each one a new start in life.

 

Both the Sledge and Claw races carry a £29 registration fee and a further pledge to a fundraising target of £600; for your fee and commitment you get a complimentary cycling jersey, discounted accommodation, special ‘Hammer Menus’ at various restaurants the night before and a fundraising pack full of tips, advice and fundraising materials. Plus, of course, the cycling challenge itself and the satisfaction of knowing you could help change lives.

 

Full details and online entry available at operationsmile.org.uk

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Kentish Killer – February 17

Kentish Killer SportiveFebruary 17 sees the fourth Kentish Killer, an event that continues to be regarded as one of the best season openers with an outstanding reputation for both fun (despite the name) and organisation.

 

With two routes of 70miles and 40miles to choose from – both starting and finishing at the legendary Brands Hatch motor racing circuit (HQ map here) – the Kentish Killer can now accommodate up to 1000 riders and boasts chip timing, full mech support and ample food, including soap and pasta at event end. Retaining its modest £22 entry fee, which includes a contribution to the worthy Kent Air Ambulance, full details and advanced entry can be found at Kentishkiller.ning.com