A lottery for the legs
A lottery for the legs
These are events for the fortunate few. As cycling has increased in popularity, tickets for these events are like gold dust. It’s not just about your legs, but luck of the draw is a major factor here. If you do get a start number for any of these cyclosportives, however, you’re in for the bicycling experience of a lifetime!
Ronde van Vlaanderen Cyclo
When? Saturday, April 6, 2019
How far? 139km, 174km, 229km
Start location? Antwerp (229km), Oudenaarde (the others)
Type of ride? The exact route the Ronde van Vlaanderen will follow the next day. All the legendary cobbled sections and, for those who dare the 229km version: the long, flat approach from Antwerp. This event attracts thousands of cyclists. Also, large numbers of race fans positions themselves along the route. They cheer the amateur riders on, almost as enthusiastically as they do the pros. This make the entire experience special for all. You even get to ride over the official finish line at the end. It can get extremely busy at some of the short cobbled climbs. This writer has had to wait in the line for the Koppenberg in the past. Add an extra day to your trip and watch the race the next day on the roadside. At the top of the Koppenberg there’s a café and a giant TV screen. A great spot to watch the race and nurse your legs from the previous day’s efforts.
Price? Early bird €60, on the day €70 (229km)
Website: Ronde van Vlaanderen Cyclo
Maratona dles Dolomites
When? July 7, 2019
How far? 138 km (4,230m climbing)
Start location? Partenza, Italy
Type of ride? Closed roads. Helicopters above your head. Italian scenery, hospitality and cuisine. Climbs to die for. Villages en route decorate their squares for the riders. Everyone who has been lucky enough to be able to ride this event says it’s one of the most unforgettable cycling experiences they’ve ever had the chance to experience. The 2019 event is already sold out. But here’s the route, just so that you know what you’re missing!
Price? SOLD OUT
Website: Maratona dles Dolomites
La Marmotte
When? July 7, 2019
How far? 174 km (5,000 meters of climbing)
Start location? Le Bourg-d’Oisans, France
Type of ride? Legendary. This is a bucket list classic. The route passes five mythical French Alpine climbs: Le Glandon, le Télégraphe, le Galibier, le Lautaret, and ends with the ascent of the legendary Alpe d’Huez. Fun facts: Dutch professional Laurens ten Dam won the event in 2003, and in 2016, the event was won by Haarlem (the Netherlands)-based amateur Kenny Nijssen. This is an event to look forward to. This one can motivate you to help you get through those gruelling pain cave training sessions and climbing practice. Winners these days take just under six hours to complete the event. The last riders take just under 12 hours. You’ll most likely be somewhere in between…
Price? €116 (including insurance)
Website: La Marmotte
Etappe de Tour
When? Sunday, July 21
How far? 135 km (4,563 meters of climbing)
Start location? Albertville, France
Type of ride? Mountainous. On October 29, 2018, the 2019 edition of this cyclosportive sold out within just eight hours, seeing 15,000 riders sign up to take part in this famous race. The Etappe du Tour, as the name suggests, follows the exact same route the Tour de France riders will take on Saturday, July 27, 2019. The biggest test along the route is the final climb. This is a 33km ascent to Val Thorens. So, if you’re one of the lucky lottery winners, here’s the route you can look forward to. Us mere mortals can follow it with envy. Although there’s always the opportunity to ride the event on Zwift, if you’re really keen…
Price? SOLD OUT
Website: L’Etappe du Tour
Gran Fondo Milan San Remo
When? Sunday June 9, 2019
How far? 300 km
Start location? Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
Type of ride? Extremely similar to the race itself with the exception of the start and finish. The professionals’ Milan-San Remo (the longest race on the UCI calendar) will have already taken place on March 23 2019. If you have the legs for La Primavera, then register! At the time of writing there were still some places available.
Price? Around €100
Website: Gran Fondo Milano San Remo
Race Across America
When? Tuesday, June 11, 2019 (Solo race)
How far? 4,830 km (52,000 meters climbing)
Start location? Oceanside, California, USA
Type of ride? Insane: from the west to the east coast of the US. You can’t just register, though. Solo riders have to qualify. Teams, however, don’t have to qualify. OK, we admit it, this isn’t really a cyclosportive. It’s an ultradistance race. But we couldn’t resist including it. Teams have a maximum of nine days to finish the race. Solo riders have to finish in a maximum of 12. The fastest it has been achieved is in five days. No other race on the planet compares to this. The distance (30% longer than the Tour de France), the terrain and the weather conditions are all hugely inspiring. Or forbidding, depending on how you look at it.
Price? Solo: $3,995
Website: RAAM
L’Eroica
When? Sunday, October 6th, 2019
How far? 78km, 13okm and 209km (3,891 meters of climbing)
Start location? Gaiole, Chianti, Italy
Type of ride? Old-school. This is the original Eroica. L’Eroica was thought up by Italian Giancarlo Brocci in 1997. The ride is a hommage to Italian cycling heritage. Much of the ride takes place on Strade Bianchi, the white gravel roads of Tuscany. Your bicycle must have been made no later than in 1987, and lycra clothing is not permitted.
No, really: “L’Eroica is an event for road-racing bicycles and is dedicated to cyclists wearing vintage or historically inspired clothing, riding historical bikes or vintage-style modern bikes. Lycra clothing may not be worn.” This is a real adventure, especially considering the technology which is being used. There is a limited numbers of entrants allowed to participate in the event. But don’t worry, L’Eroica is now a brand, and there are similar events held in the UK, the US, South Africa and Limburg, the Netherlands (on June 29, 2019).
Price? For the event in Chianti, the prices are up to €75.
NB, registration open on January 29 at 15.00 CET! To get the best chance of getting in the line, you should already register with MyEroica, say the organisers.
Website: L’Eroica
Interested in less exclusive cyclosportives? Read also: 6 Cyclosportives in the Low Countries
These are events for the fortunate few. As cycling has increased in popularity, tickets for these events are like gold dust. It’s not just about your legs, but luck of the draw is a major factor here. If you do get a start number for any of these cyclosportives, however, you’re in for the bicycling experience of a lifetime!