The sportive season now stretches into the depths of winter.

With the nights drawing in and temperatures falling, a date with a sportive, circled in the diary, can provide much-needed motivation to log winter miles and maintain fitness.

Long-distance audax events, reliability rides and club runs remain the backbone of the winter season, providing a more intimate and inexpensive ride.

The emphasis there, however, is on self-sufficiency – don’t expect route signage or mechanical back-up – so for riders who want the full sportive setup, here are six events to kick-start your winter training.

Sunday October 20
Performance Cycles Winter Mini-Sportive Series

The Performance Cycles Winter Mini-Sportive Series offers one event a month from October to March, with the first this coming Sunday. Riders have the choice of 45 and 65-mile routes at each event – “the ideal way to make sure you continue to get those big rides in at least once a month,” according to the organisers.

Run by the team at the Performance Cycles shop in the Cotswolds, the series format is designed to be simple and cheap, with the entry fee set £7 and each limited to 100 riders.

There will be no feed stations or electronic timing, but each event will offer a signposted route, mechanical back-up, free energy products for each rider at the start, and hot drinks and cake at the finish.

Route options: 45, 65 miles
Entry fee: £7
Website: Performance Cycles

Sunday October 27
Tour of Worcester

The Tour of Worcester sportive returns for its fifth edition on Sunday October 27, following a “testing route” based on the roads used by the Tour of Britain in the past.

The sportive offers 62 and 92-mile routes, with the latter posing a significant challenge for the time of year. Both start and finish at Worcester racecourse and take in a number of climbs in the county.

Entry costs £25, or £20 each in a group of four or more. Both routes will be fully signed with mechanical support and a broom wagon. The long course will have two feed station, while the short route will have one, with Clifbar supplying nutritional supplies.

Route options: 62, 92 miles
Entry fee: £25 (or £20 each for a team of four or more)
Website: Wheels in Wheels