The team behind the popular Meon Valley Riser and the New Forest Rattler sportives have added a third event for 2013.
The Early Riser Sportive will form part of the Early Riser Festival of Cycling and Music, set to take place in the New Forest on the weekend of August 3-4.
The sportive itself will take place on the Saturday, with 48, 76 and 100-mile routes on offer, starting from festival HQ in Avon Tyrrell. All three sportive routes include the 25 per cent climb of Blissford Hill.
“Revellers will have the chance to get some beautiful miles under their belts in the stunning location of the New Forest National Park and on return have a wide choice of festival entertainment, combining the great outdoors, cycling and a stellar line-up of music for an idyllic family/friends summer party weekend,” the organisers told us.
“The routes have been planned to give a great mix of cycling, from long, fast straights to punchy hills and longer gradual climbs. The routes have also been planned to encounter as little traffic as possible, with minimal miles on bigger roads and any of the busier sections will be fully marshalled.”
Skoda support vehicles, motorbike outriders, mechanics and support crew will be on hand throughout. All routes will be fully signposted and will have well-stocked feed stations.
Riders will return to the Early Riser festival site, where a wide range of cycling events, including Rollapaluza, a pedal-powered disco, a pedal-powered cinema and a range of children’s cycling activities, will be held on both days.
Festival goers will also have access to 65 acres of mountain bike and leisure trails, while more than 40 live acts will perform across two stages. Confirmed artists include Britpop band Dodgy, as well as Sadie and the Hotheads.
Festival tickets cost £78 for the weekend, or £42 for one day (either Saturday or Sunday), and include sportive entry, as well as on-site camping. Visit www.earlyriserfestival.co.uk for more information.
