Wild Rock Sportive
Location Peterborough, Ont. Date July 7 Distances 90 km, 130 km Cost $220 Website fretori.com
The Wild Rock Sportive has its roots in a one-off event called the “stag fondo,” a bike ride and stag party for Charlie Bryer in 2015. A sales rep with Shimano Canada, Bryer turned the event into the Shimano Gran Fondo a year later, and following that event’s success, is launching the Wild Rock Sportive in 2018. “There’s a lot of fantastic gravel roads near Peterborough,” said Bryer. “We’ve made this event for gravel and ’cross bikes, but a road bike would work as well.” The cost of the event includes an “extensive care package” for each rider, and both distances start at 3 p.m. “We’ll take advantage of the long daylight hours before heading to the dinner and party,” said Bryer.