Sportive

Seven of the UK’s toughest sportives to ride in 2015

Britain's hardest sportives to add to your must-ride list

Tour of Wessex - May 23-25

There's no shortage of challenging sportives in the UK (Pic: Anthony Pease)
British climbs are shorter than their European counterparts, so you have to use your imagination to make the most of your time in the hills (Pic: Anothony Pease)
The Wiggle Dragon Ride is a long-standing fixture on the UK sportive calendar (Pic: Human Race)
The Fred Whitton Challenge is widely regarded as the UK's toughest sportive (Pic: Andrew Griffiths/Saddleback)
The Etape du Dales takes in some of Yorkshire's toughest climbs (Pic: Simon Wilkinson/SWPix.com)
Riders take in the scenery on the Tour of Wessex. (Pic: Tour of Wessex)
The sweeping hairpins of Bealach na Ba (Pic: Stefan Krause, via Wikimedia Commons)
The Exmoor Beast is the sting in the tail of the sportive calendar (pic: Exmoor Beast)

Tour of Wessex - May 23-25

Climbs come thick and fast on the popular three-day Tour of Wessex sportive, which includes the ascents of Cheddar Gorge and Porlock Toll Road.

Though a ‘medium’ option is available, the standard three-day route covers 107 miles, 116 miles and 112 miles.

Day one boasts 11 ascents in total, including the eight-kilometre Cheddar Gorge climb and King Alfred’s Tower, which has a maximum gradient of 18 per cent.

The short-but-steep Black Hill is one of nine climbs on the Saturday, while the Sunday features the steepest climb of the weekend, with Bryant’s Hill – climb 11 of 14 – ramping up to 25 per cent in parts.

Overcome three days at the Tour of Wessex and you’ll definitely have earned your post ride beer/cake.

Website: Tour of Wessex