2 July 2007: The Lowdown on Cyclosportives

CyclosportiveIn conversation with Julian Bray, a journalist and rider with the Rapha Condor team. Julian came to competitive cycling after falling in love with the continental tradition of the cyclosportive: mass-participation road races of historic or cultural significance, such as the annual Etape du Tour and the Gran Fondo Campagnolo. We discuss the appeal of cyclosportives, the practical issues of how to rider one and Julian gives his impression of the London-Canterbury ‘British Etape’ cyclosportive and his all-time Top 5 events. Also in the show a chance to win one of three copies of a new DVD about the route of the 2007 Etape and two tickets to a talk at London’s Design Museum by the curator of a new exhibition about fixed wheel bicycles.

More cyclosportive resources:

Cyclosport (UK) – Set up by sportive rider Mark Harding for UK riders

Cyclosport (France) – French site with dates, results and articles

The French cycling federation’s Trophee d’Or series index

La Gazzetta della Sport’s sportive series, including Milan-San Remo and Lombardy

Sport Communication – the classic French ‘Grand Trophee’ series including La Marmotte

Velo 101 – Top French cycling site

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