Cycling News

Closed-road Sportive for Scotland

Motorists hoping to use some major Loch-side roads in Perthshire on Sunday 24th June will be disappointed. The A827 by Loch Tay will be closed to all but 2500 cyclists on the brand new Etape Caledonia, an 83-mile 'Sportive' bike ride.

Etape Caledoia is being promoted as the UK’s first ever timed mass participation cycling event on closed roads.

The event is being staged by a new division of Quintus Group, which through subsidiary SBI Group stages the London Triathlon, the Blenheim Triathlon and the London Duathlon.

The Etape Caledonia has received support from Perth and Kinross Council and the local police, and is the first of what will become a UK Etape Series. Etape is French for 'stage' as in stage of the Tour de France. Each year, keen cyclists can tackle a stage of the Tour de France a week or so before the pro riders get there and this ride is known as the Etape du Tour de France, or just Etape for short.

Etape Caledonia director, Kevin Stewart, said: “I am very excited that our search for a venue to establish a European-style closed roads cycle challenge has come to fruition with the launch of the Etape Caledonia. By providing UK cyclists with this demanding course under the umbrella of a road closure, we hope to set a new benchmark for competitive cycling in the UK.”

The route will take in some of the stunning scenery of Highland Perthshire including the three lochs of Tummel, Rannoch and Tay, with some significant hill climbs.

The full distance event will cost £49 to enter, with a shorter 28-mile course costing £25. Entries and further information are available online by clicking here.

Published Thursday 18 January 2007