Cyclo Sportives are mass-participation, semi competitive cycling events over challenging terrain.
The best known is the Etape du Tour which gives you the chance to test yourself on the actual route of one of the mountain stages of the Tour de France.

With interest growing each year in these types of events, we extended our programme for 2008, which now includes events in France, Italy and Spain.

New for 2008, we have introduced the Balearic Series, and the Italian Classic Series, each series consisting of 3 events with a 10% discount if you book all 3 events.

The Etape du Tour 2008 - Full details and bookings available now!

The 2008 Etape du tour will take place on Sunday 6th July and will follow the route of the stage from Pau to the mountain finish at the ski station at Hautacam, taking in the mighty Col du Tourmalet.

We will have our usual selection of options for the Etape, with a choice of Fly/Drive or coach travel, as well as accommodation only and entry only packages.

Click here for more information.

The Balearic Series 2008...

A series of 3 events in Majorca/Menorca, all new to our program, with a 10% discount if you book all 3 at one booking...

The Duva International Sportive, Majorca - 26th April 2008 - Full details now available!
Staged over two days in the northern mountains of Majorca, between Puerto Pollentia and Soller, these spotives are ideal for the first time continental sportif rider (with a shorter ride on the Saturday, and a longer ride on Sunday), or as final preparation for the grand Sportives of Europe (Gran Fondo Campagnolo, Etape du Tour, etc).

The 7th Marxa Cicloturista Trencagarrons, Majorca - 21st September 2008 - Full details now available!
This event features a 118km ride over the Puig Major, at almost exactly half way.
For those who know the north of the island of Majorca, this will be a popular route, starting in Alcudia, through Pollenca, then up the 500m, 11km climb to Lluc monastery before travelling around the beautiful Gorg Blau and the 1000m, 12km climb of the Puig Major, before dropping back down to Lluc, down the switchbacks to Caimari, and the winding country lanes back to Pollenca and Alcudia.

The 8th Volta Cicloturista International a Menorca - 24th-26th October - Full details now available!
The third event in the 2008 Balearic Series will be the 8th Tour of Menorca. As an end of season event, it often attracts several “big name” riders who just want a pleasant ride round one of the Balearic Islands, and a little sunshine. Now is your chance to join them.

The Italian Classic Series 2008...

A series of 3 events in Italy, with a 10% discount if you book all 3 at one booking...

The Gran Fondo Campagnolo 2008 - Full details now available!
The Gran Fondo Campagnolo is a similar to the Etape du Tour, and is another mass ride organised by Campagnolo, held in the Southern Dolomites.
The terrain is mountainous , but there is a choice of distances from 92 - 208km.
The Gran Fondo Campagnolo was featured in the September 1998 issue of Cycle Sport.

The Gran Fondo Marco Pantani 2008 - Full details now available!
The Gran Fondo Marco Pantani is a relatively new event to the Gran Fondo calendar and is held over a classic course in the Italian Alps, taking in the mythical climbs of the Gavia and Mortirolo which often feature so prominently in the Giro d’Italia.

L'Eroica 2008 - Full details now available!
L’Eroica is the oldest vintage cycle race in the world. The randonnée takes place over tarmac and dirt roads of the Chianti district of Tuscany and many participants ride the event on vintage bicycles, dressed in vintage gear.

Other Cyclo Sportives...

The Gran Fondo Nove Colli 2008 - Full details now available!

One of the biggest “Gran Fondo” races in the Italian calendar, with over 9,000 riders attempting the NINE hills of the Nove Colli (although most riders completing the course are convinced that there are more!!!)

La Mont Ventoux & Grimpe Du Ventoux - 7th/8th June 2008 (Note change of dates) - Full details now available!

La Ventoux is a classic cyclo sportive event held in the Provence region of Southern France. It is held over a classic route that rivals the L’Etape du Tour.

There are a choice of 3 distances (170km Master event), (102km Senior event), (75km Decouverte event), all starting and finishing from the town of Beaumes de Venise.

The following day you will have another chance to climb the Giant of Provence with a 21.5km mass participation event from Bedoin to the Weather Station of Mont Ventoux. Each rider will be given their personal time.

We are offering a long weekend trip to take part in both La Ventoux and Grimpe du Ventoux events.

Milan San Remo 2008 (Sportive and race watch) - Full details now available!

The Milan San Remo pro race is one of the monumental classic 1 day races in the professional calendar. The race is organised by the the Italian sports newspaper Gazetta dello Sport, the same people who organize the Giro d’Italia.
Apart from seeing this fantastic cycle race you will be able to take part in the cyclo sportive event “Medio Fondo Milan San Remo” (113km) the day after.

La Marmotte 2008 (French Alps) - Sorry, this trip is fully booked.

La Marmotte is a classic cyclo sportive event based in the French Alps. It is held over a classic Alpine route that rivals the L’Etape du Tour.

The 174km event starts in Bourg d’Oisans and climbs the Col de la Croix Fer, Col du Telegraphe, Col du Galibier before returning to Bourg d’Oisans and finishes up the 21 hairpin bend climb to the ski station of L’Alpe d’Huez.

This would be an ideal weekend for those who didn’t manage to get in this years L’Etape du Tour, or have already done the Etape and fancy another Alpine mountain challenge.

Availability:
Sorry, this trip is fully booked.

La Morzine - Vallee d'Aulps - Sunday 22nd June 2008 - SORRY, THIS TRIP HAS BEEN CANCELLED

La Morzine Vallee d’Aulps is a new insertion to our ever expanding list of cyclo sportive offerings and is organised by sports communication the same people who organise La Marmotte and Le Mont Ventoux. It is a classic cyclo sportive event based in the French Alps, and with two distances (149km & 91km) it would be suitable for those cyclists that are new to the Cyclo Sportive events.

Tour of Flanders Cyclo (Saturday 5th April 2008) - Full details now available!

Clients on our trip to the Tour of Flanders trip also have the opportunity to ride a mass participation event over part of the Tour of Flanders route. (70 or 140km)

See our Spring Classics page for full details.

Amstel Gold Race Cyclo Sportive (Saturday 19th April 2008) - Full details now available!

Clients on our trip to the Amstel Gold Race trip also have the opportunity to ride a mass participation event over part of the Amstel Gold route.

See our Spring Classics page for full details.

Quebrantahuesos 2008 (Spanish Pyrenees) - Sorry, this trip is fully booked.

The Quebrantahuesos is the largest cyclo sportive event in Spain, and each year it attracts over 8,000 competitors, and in 2005 was part of the UCI Golden Bike series.

The start and finish is held in the town of Sabinanigo in the Spanish Pyrenees and the route is a classic Pyrenean mountain stage. The 205km route starts from Sabinanigo and climbs the Col du Somport (1,640mt) and crosses the border into France where it climbs the steep Col du Marie Blanque (featured Etape du Tour 2005) before returning to Spain via the Col du Portalet (1,795mt) to finish back in Sabinanigo.

Availability:
Sorry, this trip is fully booked.

Paris Roubaix Cyclo - Sorry, this trip is fully booked.

The Paris - Roubaix cyclo is a classic cycling event which follows the exact route of the professional event (260km) including a lap of the famous Roubaix velodrome. There are also shorter events of 190km and 120km.

Availability:
Sorry, this trip is fully booked.

HOW TO BOOK

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