INT’L SPORTIVES
Looking for something further afield? You’ve come to the right place...
If you’ve got the time and money, there’s great riding aplenty to be found on the continent.
MARATONA DLES DOLOMITES 1 July 2018 Northern Italy
You will need your hill legs on for this one as there’s little in the way of flat roads, and that’s whether you’re competing over the 55, 106 or 138km option. You’ll have to be fit – and that means medically fit – as the organisers insist on a medical certificate before allowing you to ride.
LA MARMOTTE 8 July 2018 Alps, France
Similar in magnitude and popularity as L’Étape du Tour (see below), the key difference being its route doesn’t change from year to year. And what a route it is, consuming 174km and over 5000m of climbing from Bourg d’Oisans to Alpe d’Huez. Even with 7500 places available, it’s usually a sell-out; so check to see if charity places are up for grabs. marmottegran fondoseries.com
PARIS-ROUBAIX CYCLO-SPORTIVE 7 April 2018 Northern France
This brutal one-day race unfolds 24 hours before the professional Classic race known as ‘The Hell of the North’. Unlike the pros, you can choose from three race distances: 70km, 145 and 170km. Like the pros, you’ll have to tackle the infamous cobbles. Just hope that the rains don’t pour or you’ll feel like you’re riding on ice… parisroubaix challenge.com
GRAN FONDO QUEBRANTAHUESOS 23 June 2018 Sabinanigo, Spain
The difficulty in pronouncing its name – it’s simpler to use its English nickname ‘Bone Breaker’ – is matched by the magnitude of the full Quebrantahuesos Gran Fondo, which slowly consumes a 200km route. An ‘easier’ option is the 85km Treparriscos Gran Fondo. The route crosses the Pyrenees into France before returning to Spain. Both are by lottery only. quebrantahuesos.com
L’ÉTAPE DU TOUR 8 July 2018 Briancon to Izoard
Arguably the biggest and most famous sportive on the calendar due to one reason – its links with the Tour de France. The parcours follows the same route as a stage navigated by the professionals, in this year’s case it’s stage 10’s 169km romp from Briancon to Izoard, which includes 4000m of climbing. Standard entry’s already sold out but charity places are still available. letapedutour.com