Virgin Money weekend grows, entries fill up fast for Dartmoor Classic

>>>Cycling Weekly's full 2012 cycle sportive calendar>>>

Participate Sport joins the Human Race

Sportive organiser Participate Sport goes from strength to strength after they announced they had joined forces with Human Race last week. Between them the two companies run over 50 events, including the Wiggle Dragon Ride, the Cycletta events and 16 triathlons. Participate Sport started just over one year ago with the launch of the women only Cyletta events.

Over winter they announced the purchase of The Dragon Ride - one of the biggest sportive events in the UK - and the Etape Cymru that was plauged by problems on it's first running last September. Human race is the more established of the two companies. Founded in 1991 it organised the trialthon event for the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, and is involved with the Olympic triathlon in London this summer. The latest move will see the companies name change to Human Race.

Virgin Money Cyclone Weekend

Continuing on from the success of 2011, Virgin Money Cyclone weekend promotes four days of cycling from Thursday June 28 till Sunday July 1. Based in Northumberland, the weekend is set to include a leisure ride, a sportive, Leazes Crit, a new Elite women's race based on last year's National road race circuit and, to finish off, the elite men's Beaumont Trophy, part of the Premier Calendar series.

The sportive includes three routes of 104, 63 or 33 miles with a large number of entries filled already, in particular the 104 mile route is nearly full with two months to go before the event.

Web: www.virginmoneycyclone.co.uk

The Prince of Wales Hospice Cyclothon

This year the Cyclothon reaches its seventeenth birthday. There are three routes to choose from, so whether you're a novice or a time-conscious club rider there's a route for you. The event will be held on Sunday May 27, to help raise funds for the hospice while riding through the tough terrain of the North and West Yorkshire countryside.

Web: www.pwh.org.uk/events

Pink Ribbon Ride

After last year's successful weekend of cycling, 2012 will see hundreds more of men and women again out in force in pink for Breast Cancer Care, which is now the official charity for Bike Blenheim Palace taking place between 18 and 19 August. The route will take cyclists through woodland trails and picturesque Oxfordshire villages, taking in the best of the Cotswold's rural scenery.

Web: www.bikeblenheimpalace.com

Dartmoor Cycle Challenge

Entries are still being taken for the cycle challenge in aid of Horatio's Garden, led by many of the UK's spinal surgeons. With under a month to go till the event, which has over 150 cyclists signed up already sees organisers wanting more.

The ride, based around River Dart Country Park, takes in three routes to allow for all to participate, including spinal sufferers with all-terrain wheelchairs being provided on the day. Entry will cost £30 with a target sponsorship of £50 and £10 for wheelchair users. Online entries close Wednesday May 23 with possible entries on the day.

Web: www.ssit.org.uk

Castle Coombe Cycling Festival

Already a regular venue for circuit racing and closed-road training sessions, the Castle Coombe motor racing track in Wiltshire will play host to a new festival of cycling during the August bank holiday weekend.

Taking place on Sunday 26 August, the family-oriented festival will also include the 100m and 100km Severn Bridge Sportives that traverse the iconic river crossing. Other attractions include a Circuit Challenge where visitors are invited to tackle as many laps of the motor racing circuit as they wish, a vintage bike display, have-a-go sessions and youth races.

Web: www.castlecombecyclingfestival.co.uk/

Police Appeal

Police are appealing for witnesses after a 61-year-old man was airlifted to hospital after an incident during the Exmoor Beauty Cycle Challenge. The man was in collision with an on-coming car after losing control of his bike on a descent.

He subsequently became trapped under the vehicle. Devon and Cornwall Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident. Any information can be passed on by telephoning 101. The driver of the vehicle is assisting the police as a witness.

Jurassic Classic

The Wiggle Jurassic Classic sportive this July has pulled off the sponsorship deal of the decade by getting M&S to provide sandwiches for the event. The ride takes place on Sunday July eighth, starting and finishing in Exmouth.

The 100 mile route has five climbs listed on the route, but don't let that fool you as there is barely a flat stretch of road on the profile. The 100km route, although rolling, covers just two major climbs. For more information go to www.prostate-cancer.org.uk and click on 'events'.

Spot Light On.... Red Kite Ride

A brand new sportive to add to your calendars was launched last week. The Marlow Red Kite Ride based in the Chilterns offers two routes; either a 50 or 100mile ride. Each route is said to be very well signed posted with each heading out towards Watlington via some fast decent's.

The short route will cut across to Benson whilst the longer route will head out to the lanes in Oxfordshire. When the two routes join again remember the climb back up to Winter Hall.

Entry fee is £25 with most of the proceeds heading to the Marlow Sports Club and Hearing Dogs for the Deaf.

Upcoming events

Saturday May 19: Keswick Sportive - Cumbria

Sunday May 20: Eastbourne Cycling Festival - East Sussex

Sunday May 27: Wiggle Bournemouth Sportive - Dorset

Saturday June 2: Bethany Edinburgh Sprortive - Midlothian