UK Etape

[ajay khandelwal]

Tour Etape route announced
By British Cycling


British Cycling confirm the route and entry details for the British Cyclosportive on Sunday 1st July 2007.
The start is in historic Greenwich, offering a panoramic backdrop of Docklands, the City of London and St Paul’s Cathedral. It will pass the National Maritime Museum and head out of London past the Thames barrier across Kent towards Canterbury.

Entries open on 1st March and 5000 riders will have the opportunity to complete the 117mile (187km) route, tracing much of the same route as stage 1 of the 2007 Tour de France.

The ride will offer a unique opportunity to take part in a mass cycling event starting in London and finishing within sight of the English Channel.

The route will take in some of the south’s most famous countryside and picturesque towns, including Rochester and Royal Tunbridge Wells before passing Kent County Cricket Club, Canterbury’s famous Roman city walls and finishing on Rheims Way.

Jonny Clay, Competition and Events Manager of British Cycling commented: "We are delighted to offer the rare opportunity to ride such an iconic route. It has a mix of climbs, rolling countryside and flat terrain that will appeal to all levels of cyclist. The route is stunning and passes major landmarks, castles, villages and towns along the way."

"There will be transponder chip timing and four feed stations along the fully waymarked and marshalled route. Riders will be able to experience what it’s like to take part in a major tour event, without having to go abroad or get back on their bikes the following morning!"

Sports Tours International will be the Exclusive Sports Travel Partner of the event, offering packages including entries from 1st March. It is anticipated that interest from overseas riders will be high, and Sports Tours will be able to offer tailored accommodation and entry packages through their dedicated sports travel web site.
Canterbury City Council's Tourism Manager, Neil McCollum, said: "This event offers cyclists a wonderful chance to experience the Tour de France route through the southeast of England, and we look forward to welcoming them to Canterbury. While they are here, we hope they will take the opportunity to enjoy the city's wide range of pubs, restaurants, shops and visitor attractions."

Former England football star, Geoff Thomas, has pledged to ride the British Cyclosportive and entice former team mates out of their boots and onto a bike. The Geoff Thomas Foundation is the official charity of the event.

He commented: "Since being diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia, cycling has been a major focus of my recuperation. I’m delighted to be involved in this event and that it will benefit research into leukaemia."

Thomas will use the British Cyclosportive as a warm up for his Tour de France fundraising challenge, where he and other cancer survivors aim to complete every stage two days after the professional riders.

- Entries will go live on http://www.everydaycycling.com at 12pm on 1st March.
- Alternatively call Pennine Events on 01695 682020 from the 1st March.
- Entries cost £40 including a £2 voluntary donation to the Geoff Thomas Foundation.

Route information- Transport back to the start is available at a cost of £12.

Towns distance from Start (approx km)
Woolwich 6
Dartford 20
Gravesend 31
Rochester 40
Aylsford 54
Tonbridge 78
Royal Tunbridge Wells 87
Horsmonden 103
Sissinghurst 116
Tenterden 129
Stubbs Cross 146
Port Lympne 159
Farthing Common 167
Canterbury 187

[Andrew G]

I'm going to try and enter this, but as Ian said on Saturday if you don't get in just join the route part way. I could visit Tonbridge again, only this time intentionally .

[Graham O]

At £40 a pop, I think that this is a bit pricey.

[Andrew G]

[quote]At £40 a pop, I think that this is a bit pricey.

[richv]

My understanding was that they weren't going to close the roads even at £40 a pop.

[Jon H]

I could understand £40 for a full road closure, as that will need a lot of policing/marshalling. With 5000 riders it's not as if they can just do a rolling closure like they do for the "big" UK races such as the ToB. But if they're not closing the roads where is the £200,000 of entry fees going?

[quote="Jon Hemming"]I could understand £40 for a full road closure, as that will need a lot of policing/marshalling. With 5000 riders it's not as if they can just do a rolling closure like they do for the "big" UK races such as the ToB. But if they're not closing the roads where is the £200,000 of entry fees going?

[Andrew G]

Hmmm, I'm not forking out forty quid if it's not closed roads. The route goes through London and then through the South East, how on earth do they expect to get 5,000 riders out on those roads otherwise. I forsee absolute chaos.

[adrian]

F**k me, the T-shirt must be pretty good quality, then. Maybe Turnbull & Asser will be knocking all entrants up a bespoke number

[Ian A4size]

Probably a merino Rapha

[George]

Stop Whinging it's not too bad, just think you'll go faster with a lighter wallet

I've bookmarked the site and will enter on the 1st March.

[Paul H]

I've just enetered and was no 776 so it is filling up fast considering entries only opened at 12.00.

http://www.everydaycycling.com/eotkpublic.aspx?eid=482

[adrian]

Not sure what to do about this. Can't we just bunk it? There is the question of how to get back from Canterbury, of course.

[Richard (Apples)]

I've just got my confimation back and I'm number 4362.....so hurry up

[adrian]

Have entered and got my confirmation email back - can't see any number on it, though, apart from the internet order number, which I suppose is different.