Big weekend of cycling with the Virgin Money Cyclone Sportive

Buckinghamshire Sportive 2010

published 29 March 2012

>>>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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Upcoming events

Sunday April 8: Tour of the Weald - Kent

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Symon Lewis joined Cycling Weekly as an Editorial Assistant in 2010, he went on to become a Tech Writer in 2014 before being promoted to Tech Editor in 2015 before taking on a role managing Video and Tech in 2019. Lewis discovered cycling via Herne Hill Velodrome, where he was renowned for his prolific performances, and spent two years as a coach at the South London velodrome.