>>>Cycling Weekly's full 2012 cycle sportive calendar
Virgin Money Cyclone
The biggest of the UK teams have announced that they will be in attendance of the newly renamed Virgin Money Cyclone weekend. Endura, IG Markets-Sigma and Rapha Condor Sharp will lead the racing over the course of the 3 days, which will include competitive and non-competitive cycling for beginners to pros. Starting on Thursday June 28 with the Tyne Six Bridges Leisure Ride and finishing with the Pros on Sunday July 1 with a new event, which holds a race specifically for elite women.
Web: www.virginmoneycyclone.co.uk or you can follow @VMCyclone on Twitter
Wiggle New Forest Spring Sportive
An extra 100 places have been made available for the already sold out New Forest sportive. The 100 spaces will be split into half over the weekend event, so 50 for Saturday April 14 and 50 for Sunday April 15. Tickets went on sale last week so be fast to pick up a sport.
Web: www.ukcyclingevents.co.uk
Ronde Anglia
A new sportive to 2012 by relatively new sportive organiers, brings a fresh approach to the calendar in 2012. Anglia Cycling are taking years of experience in road and closed-circuit race organising and putting their hands to the non-competitive side of things with the Ronde Anglia. Based in and around the Fens this event doesn't represent anything hilly and comprises of a flat ride, with a varied route from dead straight to narrow twisty lanes. Organisers say be prepared for some rough stuff too.
Web: www.angliacycling.org.uk
Tour of Cotswolds Sportive
You don't really need asking twice to visit the Cotswolds, so use this sportive as an excuse to go. Featuring Dover's Hill, which in the 2010 was used as the National Hill Climb Champs venue, covering 1,487 yards with an average of 10 per cent and other tough climbs such as Clockley and Campden Lane certainly supports its claims of being a tough ride.
Web: www.velosportives.co.uk
Southern Sportives £1 Photos
A new initiative to help local communities has been launched by Southern Sportive. Å£1 Photos are confirmed for two events so far, which allow riders to purchase images for £1 with all proceeds going to a local charity. This is a push from the organisers to give something back and to help young budding photographers.
Web: www.southernsportive.com
Spotlight on..... The Scottish Bike Show Sportive
Scotland offers a number of quiet beautiful roads for cyclists and with the weather of late hitting the high teens, maybe Scotland is in for a scorching summer. The Scottish Bike show, back its second year, will include a sportive ride on Sunday April 15 for a challenging cycle through the countryside of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. The show which takes place from Friday 13 till Sunday 15 will be a good opportunity to see the latest goodies from the cycling market, which is based at the SECC in Glasgow.
The ride offers two routes: 100 miles and 60 miles hitting many testing climbs like Dukes pass and Glen Ogle. The shorter challenge route has a total accent of 1558 meters with the toughest gradient at 10.7 per cent with the longer route climbing over 1797 meters throughout the day. Entries to The Scottish Bike Show Sportive are still open to all cyclists aged 17 and over and start at £22.50 for the Challenge Ride and £26.50 for the Sportive Ride. Discounts are available for groups and discount entry into the show is available.
For more information check www.thescottishbikeshow.com
Upcoming events
Sunday April 8: Tour of the Weald - Kent
Monday April 9: Santini Cotswold Spring Classic - Gloucestershire
Saturday April 14: Wiggle New Forest Spring Sportive - Hampshire
Sunday April 22: Action Medical Research- Peterborough 100 - Peterborough
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