Tag: UK Sportives

It’s never too late in the year to fit in a good sportive and the GTC Screamer packs in a huge amount in its 84miles – from the reed lined moorland lanes, to the grandeur of Cheddar Gorge, to Glastonbury Tor, the history of Wells Cathedral and the pre-history of Iron Age Ham Hill.

Starting just outside the picturesque village of South Petherton in Somerset, at GTC Headquarters, registration begins at 7.30am. Grand Tour Cycling will supply support vehicles on the course, riding leaders in attendance on the course, and two feed stations. Riders will be timed on the course, and event timings will be published on the web on completion of the event. Waymarking is ‘careful and copious’ – so it should give you ample opportunity to savour the views, and those climbs without getting lost. This ride takes in one big climb up the infamous Cheddar Gorge.

Entry to the GTC Screamer is £25 with full details at grandtourcycling.co.uk

If you don’t want to lose form over the winter a late season sportive should be just the ticket and the Essex Season Ender, which takes place on roads that can be thoroughly enjoyed at any time of year, perfectly fits the bill. The event HQ is the prestigious Redbridge Cycling Centre (map here) giving you a stunning view of the City of London while still being surrounded by the peace of the countryside and there is a choice of two routes – 42miles and 72miles – to decide between.

The Essex Season Ender 42miler is a great route for the beginner or someone entering a first sportive; following those on the long route for the first 21miles, then cutting west and re-joining those on the long ride at the feed station at Moreton. The 72miler take riders further out onto the quiet countryside roads of Essex towards picturesque villages such as Doddinghurst, Willingale and Good Easter before heading west towards High Roding – a stunning route with a few rewarding hills that creates more of a challenge for those looking to feel the burn in their legs.

Both of the rides include free energy drinks and snacks, chip timing, emergency and pick-up/sweep support. Entry to the Essex Season Ender is £19 for the 72miles and £16.50 for the 42miler – entry to both on the day, places allowing, is £25. Full details and online entry at sportiveuk.co.uk

The Tommy Godwin Challenge was created in 2013 by Sarah and Mike Adams to honour the cycling icon and 1948 Olympic medallist Tommy Godwin, and to build on the legacy of London 2012 (of which he was an ambassador.)

Starting and ending at the Marie Curie Hospice in Solihull (map here) there are two routes available – a 30km option for families and less experienced cyclists and a more challenging 100km route with feed station and timing.  Both are well signed and with route cards provided, wending their way through the Warwickshire lanes, with the sportive making a brief foray into Worcestershire via Feckenham. With only a couple of climbs, Tommy Goodwin Challenge is an ideal end of season event both for the experienced rider and those looking for their first sportive.

Entry is nothing short of a bargain at just £20 for the 100km ride and £12 for an individual entry to the 30km option or £25 for a family of four. Full details and online entry for the Tommy Goodwin Challenge at tommygodwinchallenge.weebly.com

Based in and around Corpach, north of Fort William, The Lord of the Lochs Sportive returns for 2014 to take the rider on an unrivalled route of quiet roads and spectacular scenery passing many sights of historical interest. From the event start, riders will head out west to Glenfinnan for the first climb of the day. There are two options available: The ‘Standard’ Lord of the Lochs at 156km and the more challenging Lord of the Lochs Elite covering 180km.

There will be 3 feed stations on the course providing teas and coffees, water, cakes, bananas, peanuts and other light snacks (no hot food) and registration will be open from 8:00 to 9:30 with riders being allowed to start at any time between 08:30 and 10:00. Entry fee for both distances is £28.

Organised by No Fuss Events, further details and online entry for the Lord of the Lochs at nofussevents.co.uk

New for 2014 The Isle of Man CC 24 is a non-stop ultra-cycling challenge for the truly hardy. The challenge is simple (in concept, at least) how many laps of the TT Mountain Course can you ride in 24 hours? Open to solo riders and relay teams of 2,4,6,8,10 or 12 people, The Isle of Man runs alongside the Isle of Man CC with camping in the grounds of the TT Grandstand to guarantee a great atmosphere for everyone involved in both events.

Starting and finishing in the pit lane at the iconic TT Grandstand the event offers electronic timing, two feeding stations around the course, support vehicles circulating around the course and masseurs, medical and mechanical support at the TT Grandstand.

Organised and run by Greenrock Ltd, The Isle of Man CC 24 has various entry prices, depending on numbers, ranging from £180 for a solo effort to £1500 for a full team of 12. Details and online entry at isleofmancc.com

Starting from Brecon Leisure Centre (map here) the Brecon Devil Sportive – one of the many devilishly-themed rides from Red Kite Events offers 43mile, 66mile and a 98mile route options around the quiet roads north of Brecon. The gorgeous backdrop of the Welsh mountains promises to take the mind off the challenge, which is rarely less than undulating – the go-to cycling euphemism that always means ‘hillier than you hoped’.

The 43mile Brecon Devil Sportive route covers 1,722 metres of ascent taking in the climbs of Llandyfalle Hill, Waun Hirwaun, The Eppynt and the easy rolling roads back to Brecon, whilst the 66-miler ups the game to 2,450 metres of climbing taking in same climbs as the 43mile route, but adding in the rolling roads around Abergeswyn and Llanwrtyd Wells. The 98mile option (4083 metres of climbing) takes in the same climbs as the other routes but then adds the Devil’s Staircase (a classic, brutal climb with two hairpins), plus the tough climbs around Llyn Briane before the climb from Cyngordy up to Crychan Forest.

The food stops – one on the 43miler and two on both the 66 and 98milers – will be supported by High 5 and The Drovers Rest Restaurant. Entry to all three distances is £25 until August 31, £30 from September 1 until closing 7 days before the event. Further details and online entry for the Brecon Devil Sportive at redkite-events.co.uk

Fast becoming one of the main sportive fixtures on the calendar the New Forest Rattler seems to go from strength to strength taking riders on a magnificent loop of the New Forest and offering a fantastic day on the bike in a truly stunning part of the UK.

With three different route options; 47, 82 and 102miles the New Forest Rattler is based out of Moyles Court School (map here) in the heart of the New Forest and, as accommodation in the height of summer can be hard to come by, organisers are now offering camping packages too at £20 per pitch. Registration on the day opens at 7.30am with riders away from 8.30am to enjoy relatively quiet roads and some surprisingly hilly terrain, including the short sharp shock of Blissford Hill (25% gradient.)

£25 gains entry to the two shorter distances and £27 to the 102miler – all including pre-race porridge, tea/coffee, electronic timing, SAG wagon, post-event hotdog or burger to refuel.

Full details and online entry for the New Forest Rattler at newforestrattler.co.uk