Cyclo Sportives

Cyclo sportives are long distance road cycling events carried out at various venues throughout the world. There are many events in the UK stretching the calendar from January right through to December. The majority of events take place between March and September. Every attempt is made to ensure that events do not clash. Cyclo sportives are very similar to the Tour De France but on a smaller scale and for those who are not privileged to be in the elite. Thousands of people take place at these cycling events. It is a way to test their endurance. Most events in the UK attract around 600 cyclists. Cyclists of all abilities can compete. It is a case of seeking personal goals. This may be the ability to complete the course. It may be to beat the time of a previous year. Many events offer a choice of courses of differing lengths to attract beginners and professionals alike. The events are ideal for groups, individuals and clubs. Some events are free. Others can be £1,000, advising participants to obtain sponsorship. Cyclo sportives are not intended to be a race. Riders are however given finishing positions. Due to the competitiveness of the events, faster cyclists are encouraged to push the pace. They tend to work together in order to increase their speed. All courses include a mountainous region as a test of stamina. Uneven surfaces such as cobblestones add to the thrill of the events. Cyclo sportives reportedly originated in France around 1982. This event took place at La Marmotte, France. The course finishes at the top of the Alpe d`Huez which is one of the most famous climbs of the Tour De France. It is still considered to be one of the hardest cyclo sportive courses. Even though the sport supposedly originated in France, in 2007, the Cape Argus Cycle Tour in South Africa celebrated its 30th anniversary. It had a record 40,000 participants. The most famous sportive event is L`Etape du Tour in France. It has around 8,500 participants each year. The event takes place each July and takes in one of the mountain ranges of the Tour de France that particular year. The most famous event in the UK is held in Wales due to the mountainous terrain. Course lengths can be as short as 12 miles and extend to 1,000 miles (Lands End to John O`Groats). Events even take place between London to Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels. Many sportive events rely heavily upon sponsorship. This sponsorship comes in a variety of forms. The first is for appropriate advertising to assist in paying for the event to take place. Many bike manufacturers often test their bikes at these events. Cyclists may be encouraged to try the new designs free of charge with the hope of future sales. Participants are encouraged to obtain sponsorship to take part in these events. Some events are purely run on a sponsorship basis for a specific charity. Over 900 cyclo sportive events are held worldwide annually. There are numerous websites available offering up to date information. An extensive calendar of UK events can be found using an internet search engine. These events are designed to encourage people to get on their bikes and see the beautiful British countryside.