Cateran Sportive event part of line-up organised

East Perthshire is to be the venue for Scotland’s latest cycling event - the Cateran Sportive.

The Cateran Sportive will take place on Saturday, June 17, and features as part of the Coupar Angus Cycling festival, which this year takes place from June 10 to June 18.

Keen cyclist and co-founder of the Cateran Trail, Bob Ellis, is one of those behind the new event.

He explained: “For some time now, I have thought that we should have a cycle event in east Perthshire that is similar to the Etape in Highland Perthshire.

“We have some really scenic, off-the-beaten track roads, which would lend themselves to not just a cycle race but also a way to test your own strengths and abilities on a bike, your own challenge if you like, and a cycle ride where you are with many likeminded cyclists.”

Following initial discussions between Bob and John Palfreyman and Grant Murdoch from the Coupar Angus Cycling Hub several months ago, Bob spent a number of weeks working on setting two routes for an east Perthshire sportive.

Bob said: “We wanted a route of around 80 miles for the main event and 40 miles for a smaller event.

“I have developed routes that mainly cover quiet country roads and take in the area in and around the 64-mile Cateran Trail, which is why we have called it the Cateran Sportive.

“The routes that I have designed are quite challenging - or at least the main one is.

“Both routes start and finish in Larghan Park in Coupar Angus as you have immediate access to quiet country roads.

“The main route is about 78 miles long and involves 1900 metres of climb overall, taking in Newtyle, Balkeerie, Kirriemuir, Persie, Balintore, Kirkton of Glenisla, Forter, Kirkmichael, Bridge of Cally, Bamff, Alyth, Ardler before heading back to Coupar Angus.

“The supporting event takes in Ardler, Meigle, Alyth, Kirkton of Glenisla, Brewlands, Kilry, Bamff, Alyth, Ardler and again finishing in Coupar Angus. This route is 40 miles and has a total climb of 900 metres.”

Bob added that although most sportives are chip-timed events, as this is the first event organisers have decided to see what level of interest there is inititally before deciding whether to organise a full, timed event.

Both routes will be sign-posted throughout with feed stations along the way, and a map of the course will be given to each competitor.

Bob added that marshalls will be required at some of the points and feed stations and that anyone wishing to help out and volunteer would be very welcome to do so.

He added: “There are many cyclists in our area who cycle through east Perthshire on a weekly basis but these are just some of the people that we would like to attract to this new event. There are just as many recreational cyclists out there who probably want to set their own challenges but would like company, and this event is just as much for them. If you are interested in a challenging cycle through and around Cateran country, please get in touch in the first instance by emailing me on bob.ellis2@btopenworld.com for nformation.”

The routes I have designed are quite challenging - or at least the main one is . . .