Post by davidp on Aug 11, 2015 14:39:42 GMT
For those wanting to ride some continental sportives here are some dates:
Ronde Picardy. 128 or 180km September 12th 2015 Northern France Book direct on line or at start day
before.
Mallorca 312. 187 or 312km April 30th 2016 Mallorca Book through Sun Velo inc hotel.
Nove Colli. 130 or 210km May 22nd 2016 Cessanatico, Italy Book through Hotel Dory, Riccione.
I'm giving the Ronde a miss this year as I've done it 3 times and also I'm off to Mallorca the day after to do my autumn stint as group ride leader with Sun Velo. However I can recommend it as a great intro to a Gran Fondo event. These are not like UK sportives, they have big fields of 4000 to 13,000 riders, roads are full or semi closed, and they run at race speed. It's a great experience. The Ronde is just an hours drive from Calais so is popular with Brits.
I did the Mallorca 187 last year and it takes in all the Tramuntana mountain range, it's a hard parcours. Many current and ex pro's take part, Kelly does it each year. There are limited places but Sun Velo have a block booking so you can enter via them. If you inc a weeks cycling holiday with them I will see you there; haven't decided whether to enter the event myself or if I have to 'work' taking one of the ride groups out that day.
I had to DNS from the Nove Colli 2 years back due to the little heart problem but plan to try again, maybe in 2016. This is the oldest and largest Gran Fondo in Europe; guaranteed place, and discounted, if you book through hotel Dory which we did in 2013. We took the 'bike week' special offer. The event name means 9 hills, and it's a tough nut to crack. All the usual OTT Italian support en route and post ride.
Check out the various websites for more info.
Ronde Picardy. 128 or 180km September 12th 2015 Northern France Book direct on line or at start day
before.
Mallorca 312. 187 or 312km April 30th 2016 Mallorca Book through Sun Velo inc hotel.
Nove Colli. 130 or 210km May 22nd 2016 Cessanatico, Italy Book through Hotel Dory, Riccione.
I'm giving the Ronde a miss this year as I've done it 3 times and also I'm off to Mallorca the day after to do my autumn stint as group ride leader with Sun Velo. However I can recommend it as a great intro to a Gran Fondo event. These are not like UK sportives, they have big fields of 4000 to 13,000 riders, roads are full or semi closed, and they run at race speed. It's a great experience. The Ronde is just an hours drive from Calais so is popular with Brits.
I did the Mallorca 187 last year and it takes in all the Tramuntana mountain range, it's a hard parcours. Many current and ex pro's take part, Kelly does it each year. There are limited places but Sun Velo have a block booking so you can enter via them. If you inc a weeks cycling holiday with them I will see you there; haven't decided whether to enter the event myself or if I have to 'work' taking one of the ride groups out that day.
I had to DNS from the Nove Colli 2 years back due to the little heart problem but plan to try again, maybe in 2016. This is the oldest and largest Gran Fondo in Europe; guaranteed place, and discounted, if you book through hotel Dory which we did in 2013. We took the 'bike week' special offer. The event name means 9 hills, and it's a tough nut to crack. All the usual OTT Italian support en route and post ride.
Check out the various websites for more info.
