Cyclists gear up for Oban Sportive

THE ROTARY Club of Oban, working in partnership with North Argyll Cycle Club (NACC), is to stage its fifth consecutive Sportive cycle challenge on Sunday September 24 to raise funds for local good causes.

The cycle challenge involves two country routes - the Loch Avich route extending to 52 miles and the longer Kilmartin route at 84 miles, with each offering different levels of climb.

The start and finish points are at the Atlantis Leisure Centre in Oban.

This year, however, a timed hill climb is to be included on the way back for both routes, from the junction at Taynuilt up the glen to the top of the hill. NACC is also holding its annual hill race up the road to Cruachan dam on the afternoon before the Sportive.

The Sportive involves chip timing, route cards, feed stations, signage, marshalls, with Broom Wagons for each course and clearly much work goes in to putting the event on although the level of participation - not entries - is very much influenced by the weather.

Entries so far are looking good with cyclists coming from Kinross, Berwick, Aviemore and London-based Rapha Cycling Club, and it is to be hoped that the weather on the day will reward the organisers and the cyclists.

For more information visit www.obansportive.co.uk. Oban Rotary Club and NACC are grateful for the support they receive from BID4Oban, Dawnfresh Seafoods Ltd, Atlantis Community Leisure, MacQueen Bros, the Rusty Cycle shed and Tesco.

Fraser Inglis in the forefront at the finish last year. Fraser is a well-known former shinty player with Oban Camanachd and now equally highly regarded as a shinty commentator for the BBC. He finished the 52-mile route in three hours and 29 minutes.