Ladies and gentleman, have you started to plan your event calendar yet? If not, you’ll need to get your skates on, as many of these events fill up quickly. The sooner you plan your event, you’ll have a better choice of accommodation if you’re travelling away. And let us not forget, time in the saddle in preparation for the ride. Having an event to focus on really does help ones motivation, especially given our sub par weather…
Why pay to ride on the roads?
If you’re new to cycling or, indeed, the sportive world, you may be wondering why you’d want to pay to ride on roads which are otherwise free to use. Well, there are a few reasons. Mainly, many sportives include traffic management or closed roads, making the ride safer and in turn, more fun to ride. Add in the festive atmosphere, refreshment stops, the sense of community, comradery, accomplishment and in some cases, a sense of relief when you finish the event, and you can start to understand why they are fun. You also usually get a medal when finishing too!
Wales:
Tour of Pembrokeshire
Date: 24th may 2025
Location: St David’s
Distance: 25-105 miles
Price: From £30.00
Event Website: https://bigcowsports.com/tour-of-pembrokeshire/
With three distances to choose from, it’s the perfect opportunity to explore the stunning Pembrokeshire coast in all its glory, all starting from the smallest city in the UK, St Davids
There will be professional photographers to capture the adventure, timing points to track progress, and a lively Hill Climb at Stop & Call with a Samba band adding some extra energy and fun. Knowing there’s solid mechanical support along the course is also good to know. For those who havn’t visited West Wales, make a weekend of it! the area is littetred with campsites and miles of rugged coastline to explore.
CarTen 100
Date: 10th May 2025
Location: Cardiff
Distance: 107 Miles
Price: from £72.00
Event Website: https://www.carten100.com/
The CARTEN100 sportive is a fantastic one-day cycling event that takes riders on a leisurely yet rewarding journey from Cardiff to Tenby. Spanning just over 100 miles, the ride offers participants a chance to enjoy the scenic Welsh countryside at their own pace, free from the pressures of racing. The first half of the course Is relatively flat, with the second from Carmarthen being on tougher ‘back roads’. With an epic finish line in Tenby and well stocked aid stations every 30 miles or so, you’re guaranteed to have a great day.
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Dragon ride
Date: 22nd June 2025
Location: Port Talbot
Distance: 98km-296km
Price: Charity places available from £25.00
Event Website: https://www.dragonride.co.uk/
No introduction needed-One of the oldest and most recognisable sporting events in the UK is the Dragon Ride, which is regarded as the most difficult and legendary cycling events in the British Isles. 2025 gives rise to the 21st edition of the event which will once again be hosted from Margam Park, South Wales. There are 4 routes available ranging from 98km all the way to a bottom bracket busting 296km. Think you have what it takes to take on the mighty dragon? There’s only one way to find out!
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The Wales Sportive Powered By Pedal Cover
Date: 28th June 2025
Location: Tenby
Distance: 40-112 mile
Price: from£45.00
Event website: https://www.thewalessportive.com/
The Wales Sportive offers three route options—42 miles, 70 miles, or 112 miles—catering to various levels of experience and fitness. Open to anyone confident in completing their chosen distance, the event provides a challenging yet accessible experience for all participants. The course is beautiful and challenging enough to be considered tough, even for the 42 mile ride, with some of the hardest climbs being within the final 15km. As the event is part of the Long /course Weekend (a long course triathlon event, spread over three separate days) you will find there is amazing support along many parts of the course. Better still, we will be there providing free secure bike parking during the event. Come and say Hi!
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Five Valleys Sportive, In aid of Prostate Cymru
Date: 10th August 2025
Location: Port Talbot
Distance: 54-72 Miles
Price: from £45.00
Event Website: https://www.prostatecymru.com/events/the-five-valleys-sportive-2025/
with two route options: a 72-mile long course and a 54-mile short course. Designed for both experienced and casual cyclists, the event includes electronic timing, well-stocked food and water stations, and comprehensive mechanical and medical support, all covered by the £45 entry fee. Participants will receive a high-quality medal and a disposable timing chip to track their performance. With the start and finish set in the scenic surroundings of Margam Park, this event promises a safe, enjoyable, and rewarding experience for all riders.
Tour de Môn
Date: 17th August 2025
Location: Anglesey
Distance: 3.5- 106 miles
Price: From £34.99-£51.99
Event Website: https://alwaysaimhighevents.com/events/tour-de-mon-2025
With some of the most stunning coastline in the UK, this cycle sportive takes riders on a breathtaking tour around the island of Anglesey. Attracting over 1,000 participants each year, it has become a much-anticipated event for both cyclists and the local community, who line the route to cheer riders on with warm Welsh hospitality.
Cyclists can enjoy spectacular countryside and coastal roads, while also testing their speed on the ‘Flying Mile’ at RAF Valley—an exclusive closed-road section offering a unique, uninterrupted riding experience.
Welcoming everyone from cycling clubs to families and charity riders, this friendly event brings together cyclists of all ages and abilities to take on an unforgettable challenge.
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Scotland
Etape Loch Ness
Date: 27th April 2025
Location: Inverness
Distance: 66 Miles
Price: Charity entry minimum £150.00
Event Website: https://www.etapelochness.com/
We warned you last year that this happens: The event has already sold out!
BUT, there is still a chance to get into the event via a team Macmillan charity place. All you need to do is raise a minimum of £150 to help change the lives of people living with cancer. The Etape Loch Ness has one 4.8 mile climb ascending 380 meters and a total distance of 66 miles on traffic free roads making it well suited to all levels of rider. A wonderful way to kick off your season.
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Etape Caledonia
Date: 15 May
Location: Pitlochry, Perthshire
Distance: 40-85 Miles
Price: From £57.00 plus fees
Event Website: https://www.etapecaledonia.com/
This is one of the UK’s most appealing sportives, largely because it takes place on fully closed roads. As a result, it sells out every year and is well worth the trip, even if you’re coming from outside Scotland. Set in the breathtaking Scottish Highlands, the 136km route features rolling hills, forest-lined roads around Loch Rannoch and Loch Tummel, and a winding ascent alongside Mt Schiehallion. Reaching an elevation of 1,083 metres, the route offers a stunning stretch of road that will leave you in awe of the natural beauty.
England
Wiltshire classic
Date: 15th March 2025
Location: Salisbury
Distance: 49-116km
Price: From £30.00
Event Website: https://www.ukcyclingevents.co.uk/products/the-wiltshire-classic-2025
The Wiltshire Classic cycling event has long been a favorite among riders, offering a journey through the picturesque rolling countryside of the Cranborne Chase AONB. Rich in history, the route passes through charming Saxon villages, including Rockbourne, home to an Ancient Roman villa dating back to the Iron Age and the 5th century.
Starting from Salisbury Racecourse in Wiltshire, all three routes venture into Dorset and Hampshire before looping back to Wiltshire. Along the way, you’ll cross county lines and the boundary between South-West and South-East England, gliding along smooth, rolling roads that are gentle on the legs, allowing you to fully enjoy the ride.
This event is all about soaking up the great outdoors, relishing time on two wheels, and savoring the quiet kilometers as you meander through tranquil backroads that connect sleepy rural villages. It’s the perfect way to immerse yourself in the serene charm of the countryside.
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Surry Hills classic
Date: 10th May 2025
Location: Cranleigh
Distance: 50-123km
Price: From £30.00
Event Website: https://www.ukcyclingevents.co.uk/products/the-surrey-hills-classic-2025
Take on the Long or Middle Route, featuring Leith Hill, the highest point in Southern England (294m), as you explore the picturesque Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. For those on the Long Route, the iconic Box Hill awaits – a bucket-list climb and a true test for seasoned cyclists.
New to cycling? No worries! The Short Route, spanning just over 50km with 500m of climbing, offers an excellent introduction to the stunning Surrey Hills, making it ideal for beginners and casual riders.
No matter which route you choose, you’ll experience a breathtaking variety of landscapes, from rolling chalk downs and lush woodlands to vibrant grasslands and serene heaths.
Celebrate your achievement at the finish line with a well-earned medal and treats from our sponsors. Then, unwind in the lively post-race village, complete with delicious pizza, great company, and plenty of camaraderie!
Fancy riding this event for free? If you can pledge to raise £100 or more for Alzheimer’s Research UK, you won’t have to pay to enter this event.
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The Fred whitton
Date: 11th May 2025
Location: Grasmere
Distance: 112 Miles
Price: £105.00 plus fees
Event Website: https://fredwhittonchallenge.co.uk/
The Wheelbase Fred Whitton Challenge is one of the UK’s most renowned sportives, celebrated for its difficulty and often compared to European classics like the Marmotte. Spanning 112 miles through the stunning Lake District, the route starts in Grasmere and tackles iconic climbs such as Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Hardknott & Wrynose, and Blea Tarn passes. Elite riders conquer the course in just under six hours, while many sportive cyclists take over eleven hours to complete it. The challenge includes every major Lakeland pass, with the infamous 30% gradient of Hardknott Pass hitting riders hard at mile 94. I’m sorry to say that this one has sold out, but you do now have plenty of warning to get into the 2026 Ballot…
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The Struggle Dales
Date: 25th May 2025
Location: Harrogate
Distance: 140-200 KM
Price: £59.00
Event Website: https://ridethestruggle.com/products/struggle-dales-hardest-sportive-in-yorkshire
Many sportives vie for the title of “hardest route in Yorkshire,” but with nearly 10,000 feet of climbing packed into 100 miles, this event from the Struggle team is hard to overlook. Featuring iconic climbs like Malham Cove, Greenhow Hill, and Park Rash, this isn’t a ride you can tackle without serious preparation.
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Band of climbers toughest 100
Date: 16th-17th August 2025
Location: Sheffield
Distance: 68-131 Miles
Price: From £48.00
Event Website: https://www.bocescapes.com/
The Band of Climbers Toughest 100 is the UK’s most challenging and hilly sportive, set to take place on the weekend of 16th and 17th August 2025 in Sheffield and the stunning Peak District.
Make it a weekend to remember by joining a fun hill climb race and social ride on Saturday afternoon. Then, on Sunday 17th, tackle the UK’s toughest sportive, now with a new XXL route option that promises an astonishing amount of climbing.
The legendary original route spans just over 100km (62 miles) and is arguably the hardest UK sportive of its kind. What it lacks in distance, it more than compensates for in elevation, featuring over 3,200m (10,500ft) of climbing across 22 brutal, steep ascents.
To put it into perspective, The Toughest 100 packs 65% more elevation per mile than the Fred Whitton Challenge. While “The Fred” averages 85ft of elevation per mile, The Toughest 100 demands a staggering 154ft per mile—or 29m of elevation per km, compared to 17.5m per km on “The Fred.”
This is a ride that will push you to your limits and beyond. Are you ready to take on the challenge?
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Wye Valley Brewery sportive
Date: 31st August 2025
Location: Stoke Lacy
Distance: 37 -53 Miles
Price:From £32.04
Event Website: https://findarace.com/events/wye-valley-brewery-sportive
This late-season sportive, set amid the picturesque rolling hills of Herefordshire between the Malverns and the Wye Valley, offers an unforgettable adventure starting from one of the finest breweries in the West Midlands. With two scenic routes to choose from—60km (37 miles) and 85km (53 miles)—this event caters to riders of all levels.
Located in the heart of the ‘Hop Shires,’ these stunning routes take you along peaceful Herefordshire lanes, through a lush landscape marked by distinctive red soils, hop farms, apple orchards, and breathtaking views of Hay Bluff and the distant Welsh mountains.
The longer route traces the winding path of the River Wye before skirting the Much Marcle ridge and heading towards the majestic Malvern Hills. These hills, the inspiration for many of Edward Elgar’s works, including the iconic Land of Hope and Glory, add a touch of cultural heritage to this scenic ride. I can also personally recommend Wye Valley Pale ale.
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