>>>Cycling Weekly's full 2012 cyclo sportive calendar
Wight Riviera Sportive
Fancy a day's riding on the quiet country roads of the Isle of Wight? Thanks to a special deal for cyclists from Wightlink Ferries, the Wight Riviera Sportive just got a bit cheaper. Over the weekend of May 18-21 the company is offering 50 per cent off of foot crossings and a flat rate for car crossings over what is one of the most expensive stretches of water in the British Isles see www.wightlink.co.uk for more details. Which ever one of the four routes you chose you'll get a mass start lead out around a 25km loop on closed roads.
Web: www.southernsportive.com
BHF London to Brighton Series
It may not strictly be a sportive, but as one of the biggest bike rides - rider number wise - in the country we feel duty bound to mention it. This year will in fact see two new events run between the two cities. May 26-27 will see a 60 mile night ride take place. Although the route will be largely similar to the one used each year, organisers are not making the exact route public in order to avoid disruption. Participants will be given a route card when they get to the start line. On September 22 there's the chance to ride a 75 mile off road route to the coast. Organisers claim the whole route is off-road, on cycle paths, single track, forest paths and downhill sections.
Web: www.bhf.org.uk/events
Wiggle New Forest Spring Sportive
For the third year in a row the New Forest Sportive has sold out. Following on from a successful 2011 UK Cycling Events have sold every last place months before the event. Similarly with other sportives, the growing popularity means you need to get an entry in fast.
Web: www.ukcyclingevents.co.uk
CX Sportive
CX Sportives have teamed up with FOUR4TH Lights to offer a prize for the South Downs CX on March 10. Everyone who enters the event will be entered into a draw to win a FOUR4TH Genesis light. The Genesis is a compact LED handlebar light worth £195.
Web: www.cxsportive.com
Macmillan Cancer Support official charity partner for Etape Cymru
Participants in the 2012 Etape Cymru will be able to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support, after the charity joined the closed-roads ride as official charity partner. The Etape Cymru takes place in Wales on September 9 2012. Participate Sport has taken over the organisation of the event after last year's inaugural running.
Web: www.etape-cymru.co.uk
Email Cycling Weekly and tell us about your event.
Spotlight on..... Tour of Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is one of the quietest and remote areas in Britain. It's a long drive down the M4 to the most western peninsular in Wales and as such it doesn't get too busy outside of holiday time. The perfect place for a cycling event then.
The Tour of Pembrokeshire takes place on Saturday May 12 (there's a family ride on May 13) and offers riders a taste of the two best things the area has to offer - the coastline and the countryside. Each of the three routes starts in small city of St Davids - virtually the most western point in Wales - and heads up the coastline.
Despite the hilly nature of much of south Wales, the 50 mile loop is only really undulating, with one major climb up to 913 feet. The 75 and 104 mile routes do offer a much sterner challenge as they take riders in to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and the bigger climbs there. There's just over 8,000 feet of climbing on the longest ride.
For more information go to their website www.tourofpembrokeshire.co.uk or follow them on twitter @pembstour.
Upcoming events
March 3-4: Evans Ride It! Triathlon show sportive - Esher, Surrey
March 4: Polocini Winter Sprinter - Woodford, Cheshire
March 4: Puncheur - Ditchling, East Sussex
March 4: the Mad March Hare - Birmingham
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