The Sunday Sportive series attracted over 5,000 riders this summer, with last weekend’s North Downs route concluding the year with another 500 riders.
The series started in April with the Princes Risborough sportive selling out six weeks ahead of the event, closely followed by another sell out at Duncton two weeks later. The flagship of the season, the Southern Sportive, attracted 1,500 riders and much high praise for its course and organisation.
“Demand and feedback have been incredible, we’ve been closing the books on events all year, with riders coming back month after month,” says organiser Phil Harrison. “For 2010 we’re looking at how we can accept more riders across the board and meet that growth in demand, without affecting the quality of the events.”
Organisers Trail Break have held 21 sportives in the last four years, with this experience further backed up with 16 years of mountain bike event organisation before that, something echoed in the comments from just a few of the riders who took part this summer.
“I did the Southern Sportive (and two of the Sunday events),” comments Neil M. “The venue, organisation, routes, facilities at the end were all excellent; great days out. Thanks to all the team for their efforts.”
“A superb event,” added Rick B. “It is the second Southern Sportive I have done and I plan to do many more of the events in the future. They are well executed, planned on lovely routes and with a great attitude.”
The 2010 season is currently being planned, with new venues and new formats to be introduced. There’s a couple of new format pre-season events planned for March, of which more details will be available soon. Trail Break also is investing in an in-house RFID timing system to offer better results through its website.
