tour de wessex

HOW FAR ARE YOU WILLING TO GO?

25 MAY 2024

The Tour of Wessex is simple by design but devilish to complete. Select a distance then complete it within the time limit as a Solo rider, duo or quad team.

RIDERS OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS

Starting in Sherborne, Dorset, the route is a sporting 125 km circuit on unclassified and 'B' roads. Scenic landmarks include Sherborne Abbey, Glastonbury Tor, the Somerset Levels, Muchelney Abbey, and Montacute House.

SELECT ONE OF THREE TARGET DISTANCES

1 CIRCUIT - 125 KM <6 HOURS

2 CIRCUITS - 250 KM <12 HOURS

4 CIRCUITS - 500 KM <24 HOURS

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Tour of Wessex

25 may 2024 - sherborne, dorset.

Nearby Events

The Tour of Wessex is simple by design but devilish to complete. Select a distance then complete it within the time limit as a Solo rider, duo or quad team. Choose from 125km, 250km or 500km.

Starting in Sherborne, Dorset, the route is a sporting 125km circuit on unclassified and 'B' roads. Scenic landmarks include Sherborne Abbey, Glastonbury Tor, the Somerset Levels, Muchelney Abbey, and Montacute House.

About the Tour of Wessex

The Tour of Wessex is a challenge that's about pushing yourself to be better. When you try to compete against others, you set yourself up to fail. But when you compete against yourself and strive to improve, that's a challenge you have control over and can conquer.

The Tour of Wessex has been held annually since 2006, and it was the first event of its kind in the UK. The multi-day sportive format made it a favorite among cyclists from across the world, but after 17 years the organisers decided it was time to get outside the comfort zone.

For 2024 The Tour of Wessex Challenge retains many of the roads used in the origional cyclosportive, as well as offering similar distance options. However, the new format will be devilishly challenging and push participants to the limits of their cycling capacity.

We're excited to see as many people as possible step out of their comfort zone and take on this challenge.

25 May 2024 6:00am Up to 125 km (78 miles)
Tickets On Sale From 20.00 GBP
Tour of Wessex Tour of Wessex Sherborne, Dorset , UK 300 Riders
Up to 125 km (78 miles)
From 20.00 GBP

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Tour of Wessex

https://www.earthsports.co.uk/events/tour-of-wessex-2021

About this event

The three-day Tour of Wessex was first held in 2006 and had gone on to become is the UK's premier multi stage cyclo-sportive drawing in participants from 5 continents, it is a truly global event. Choose from 330 miles, 220 miles. Due to Covid 19 the 2021 event will be held as a self supported event.

EVENT PROFILE

About the organizer

Tour of Wessex Sportive

Website: www.pendragonsports.com Distance: Day 1 - 107/ Day 2 - 116/ Day 3 112miles

Total riders: 1,458

Total climbing: 7672m How, exactly, does one approach a sportive like the Tour of Wessex? Is there anything like the Tour of Wessex? Somehow I doubt it. For those unfamiliar with this now well-established event, it takes place over three days, and on each offers the ambitious entrant a ‘Standard Distance' ride of more than 100 miles with an awful lot of climbing. For the more sensible, there's a ‘Medium Distance' alternative ride each day, and shorter ‘Breeze Rides' on day one.

I know how I planned to approach it: steadily - as in, taking great care to save myself for the last day and, on the last day, for the last half of the day's ride. Why? Because 335 miles is a long way to ride, and 7,672m is a lot of hill to climb in three days.

The event is timed using the latest disposable timing chip technology, but even those of us with no desire to impress the organiser risk exhaustion by going too hard and, as with any endurance event, finishing slowly takes priority over not finishing having travelled too fast prior to retirement.

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A steady pace, then, kicked off day one, which as ever took place on the Saturday of the Whitsun bank holiday weekend and headed north from the event HQ town of Somerton. The event prospectus promised stunning terrain and, having passed through the famous town of Glastonbury, we traversed the Somerset Levels, noted worldwide for their birdlife.

These low-lying lands might sound easygoing but the narrow lanes are potholed and gravel-strewn, and demand constant attention, especially from those desperate to hold a wheel and shelter from the morning's stiff headwind.

Beyond the Levels lie the Mendip Hills and the big climb of Cheddar Gorge. In truth, it was a bit of a relief to get through the gift shops of the town at its foot and hit the climb proper, which begins to fill with vehicles early in the day. The foot of the climb is the hardest bit but it drags on to reach an uneven plateau littered with the remains of lead mines and the ‘gruffy' miners left behind.

The first feed of the day, shortly after the top of the Gorge, eased any gruffy feelings. On offer were seemingly unlimited quantities of Jaffa cakes and fig rolls along with trays groaning with mini Scotch eggs and tiny Cornish pasties. The combo worked for me every time.

Past Wells, we entered beautiful but repetitively lumpy country that lasted all the way to Bruton and beyond, eventually reaching a road I remembered well from a preview ride in 2006. At the top lay King Alfred's Tower and before it a climb that got progressively steeper until dismounts could be seen - and enjoyed.

My recollection of the 87km that followed is mostly of a headwind after the turn at Longbridge Deverill. On a gentle rise out of Mere, I experienced a bad patch and advised riding companion Juan to leave me to suffer on my own. Unfortunately this is hard to do in a sportive; even as you get dropped from one group, another comes along.

By the time I had been passed and dropped by about six of them and had crested the evil little climb out of Stourhead, I had recovered enough to ride again with Juan, having rejoined him at the final feed. It couldn't last; Juan dropped me again and was to be found later enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of the event's tented village.

Easily the finest scenery of the three days' riding was provided on day two, which took riders through Dorset to the Purbeck Hills. Given the distance to that part of the south coast, there was little dilly-dallying and the route headed pretty directly along roads I have cycled since my youth. Intent on enjoying them, I declined to join any of the bunches that overtook prior to the feed at Cerne Abbas. The village's priapic giant could be seen on the nearby hillside, his monumental lines blurred by encroaching grass.

Juan and I eased back and enjoyed the next section, which proceeded to offer up such delights as the Piddle Valley, Lulworth Cove and the road across the Lulworth firing ranges. The lengthy climb is worth the effort for the view afforded on the descent of Corfe Castle, which must be the most romantic ruined castle in England.

JC cracked after Wareham and I started to feel the benefit of my earlier slow riding, sprouting wings - for the next couple of hours, at least. Milton Abbas, with its picture-perfect thatched cottages and subsequent climb to the Bulbarrow Hill, came and went; the plummeting descent, deserted villages and quiet hollows came and went.

I spotted two riders outside South Cadbury taking smartphone pictures of a slow worm and thought, as I neared Sparkford, that I might stay clear of the various individuals I had only recently passed. No chance; looking back down a long straight, I saw a sizeable bunch coming up and sat in it for the last few miles back into Somerton.

Day three is the Tour's tappone - mainly because it comes when legs are sore. This day also has by far the most climbing, although to make life easier the ascent to Dunkery Beacon has been ditched in favour of Porlock Hill.

This year's early miles were made hard by a steady southerly wind that battered the left shoulder but made riding in echelon easy enough. The mighty Juannosuarus being a one-man echelon, I sat behind him.

By the time we reached the Quantocks, we had aggregated into a bunch that blew apart on the wall at the foot of the climb to Quantock Common. Over the top, the fresh wind made life difficult and threatened horrors to come across Exmoor.

These turned up exactly as expected at the top of the Porlock Hill Toll Road, used instead of the legendary one-in-four main road climb out of the village. The toll road is steady, much like a very long version of the Box Hill zig-zag, and passed pleasantly enough until we left the tree line and felt the wind's full force.

It stayed in our faces all the way across the moor to Dulverton, so it was with relief that we turned left and got some respite. But not from the hills; the next one kicked off a deadening succession that took us past Wimbleball Lake. Only then did matters improve, with a long downhill stretch to the final feed at Cedar Falls.

The last leg should have been easy; it was tailwind-assisted, flat until the last few miles and not too long. Never underestimate the morale-boosting value of descents; with the end supposedly in sight, this level stretch was slow and near interminable.

Langport might as well have been Brigadoon, but it did at least presage one last - sorry, two last - hills and an easy freewheel into Somerton.

Bacon butty eaten, expletive directed at organiser Nick Bourne, Juan congratulated on pushing his 100-plus kilos around a ridiculously hilly parcours; job done.

Sportive soundbites

Darren Jones - Leek CC

"I'm riding the three days and trying this event out for the first time. The routes are good, very nice, so I am looking forward to tomorrow [day three]. The marshalling's very good and so are the support vehicles out on the road. I'm camping and the only thing I would like is better stuff for breakfast, really, and it would be good if they put some sort of entertainment on in the evening."

James Richens - Nottingham

"It's very tough. I did all three days last year and it didn't put me off; I'm back for more. I'd say it's harder this year but that's probably just due to me having done a race a couple of weeks ago so I'm still a bit fatigued from that but yes, very enjoyable, very good and tomorrow's still to come." This article was first published in the June 13 issue of Cycling Weekly. Read Cycling Weekly magazine on the day of release where ever you are in the world International digital edition , UK digital edition . And if you like us, rate us!

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Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.

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Tour of wessex, 29 - 31st may 2021, tips for multi-day sportives, join the team, package includes:.

2-4 nights local accommodation in local B&B's
Guaranteed entry for Tour of Wessex
Event Jersey for each day
OTE Nutrition Pack in advance
Online Training Plan

A firm favourite of ours, The Tour of Wessex is the biggest multi-stage cyclosportive in the UK. It provides 3 days of epic West Country riding with all types of terrain on offer. Many clubs attend and you quickly make friends out on the road. Our package includes entry, group accommodation locally, online training plan, OTE nutrition and an ATR cycling jersey for each day.

Keen cyclists have been making the yearly pilgrimage to Somerset ever since 2006 to take on the challenge of 3 days of cycling while enjoying West country hospitality, and the exceptionally fine food & drink.

Expect quintessentially English countryside though the lanes and byways of the South West. Each individual stage has its own unique mix of monuments, history and challenging terrain which sets it apart from other events; add the challenge of riding three days back to back and you have truly unique event. The Tour of Wessex features 3 stages:

Stage One - 101 miles or 78 miles

Stage Two - 119 miles or 79 miles

Stage Three - 111 miles or 64 miles

Each stage starts and finishes at Huish Episcopi Academy in Langport which provides outstanding facilities including a swimming pool, cafe and cinema. The pool is available to Tour of Wessex participants free of charge and Screening of cycling and adventure films will also be taking place throughout the day.

Route highlights include: Cheddar Gorge, Stourhead House and Alfreds Tower, Somerset Levels Nature reserve, Corfe Castle, Jurassic Coast, Milton Abbas, Cerne Abbas Giant Hill Figure, Exmoor National Park and the Quantock Hills ANOB.

Booking Information

Local information, travel advice, payment terms.

Make An Enquiry

£100 booking deposit required in order to reserve your space.

Please be aware that we are limited in numbers for this event.

Non-cycling partners are welcome - please enquire and we can provide a bespoke package for them.

Start Times

08:00 each day for the Standard and Medium routes.

10:00 for the Family ride on Saturday

Route Signage

The Standard route(s) are signed, with YELLOW and BLACK event signs. 100 mile (stage 1) 120 mile route (stage 2) and 104 mile route (stage 3).

The Medium distance route(s) split are signed with RED and BLACK event signs. 78 mile (Stage 1), 79 mile (Stage 2) and 643 mile (stage 3)

Please pay attention to Highways road signs particularly those that indicate road hazards such as cattle grids; these can be very slippery in the wet. We have also added extra warning signs for sharp bends and steep descents. Please be careful on narrow sections of road and descents, keeping a safe distance between yourself and the rider in front, especially in the wet.

Safety Points

You will be riding on the open road alongside other traffic so it is essential for your own safety and that of all other road users that you comply with ALL TRAFFIC REGULATIONS.

Please ensure you obey any instructions given by the moto marshals and pay particular attention at traffic lights, roundabouts and difficult turns.

As we are providing back-up facilities we must insist that your supporters, friends and family do not bring any vehicles out on the route to follow you as this may create congestion and could be a danger to cyclists and other road users.

In the event of an accident – If you are involved in a serious accident requiring immediate medical attention then ring 999, then the organisers event support number. The route is patrolled by National Escort Group riders that are on hand to assist. For minor injuries there are basic 1st Aid kits at each of the feed stations.

Assistance During the Ride – Should you require assistance please phone the event organisers number. We strongly recommend that you add these numbers to your mobile phone and keep with you at all times during the event.

There are cut-off times at which the moto marshals will stand down. The sweep vehicle will be traveling along the route at 20kmh/12.5 mph and will be collecting signage as it goes. If it catches up with you, you can either be transported to the finish or if you wish to continue on at your own pace you may but be aware these will be no signage. The finish closes at 5:30 pm each day. If you arrive after this time you will not receive a time or finishing place for that stage

N.B. If you decided to continue after the sweep vehicle has passed you, you will have to navigate your own route, and you will also no longer be covered by the event support services. If you do this, or drop-out at any other stage, then you must call the organiser to report this to the event team.

Riders Code of Conduct

You will be riding on public roads, so you must obey Highway Code regulations. Any rider seen not complying with the code could be reported and we are obliged to provide their details to the police.

Litter – There will be litter and recycling skips at the event HQ and at feed stations. Please use them and don’t drop any litter it gives cyclists a bad name!

Traffic Regulations: Although there will be traffic management at key stages of the event, plus support from police and local authorities in planning the event, the Tour of Wessex Cyclosportive does take place on public roads, so you need to follow Highway Code regulations just as you would on a regular ride. You should be confident that you can ride in the following road conditions:

Busy urban main roads
Town center traffic
De-restricted rural roads
Narrow country lanes
Complex roundabouts
Riding in potentially large groups

Marshaling: The Tour of Wessex Cyclosportive relies on mobile moto safety marshals and arrows at key points along the route, to keep you safe and on track. Therefore, its in your interests to follow the instructions of all marshals and event officials. You should be aware that marshals are only in place should you get into difficulty, not to control other traffic.

Sportive, not Race: The Tour of Wessex Cyclosportive is a non competitive event. Whilst many experienced cyclosportive riders will be keen to record a quick time, the event is not a race so do not treat it as one. Your safety and that of other road uses is paramount.

When choosing a bike for the event, you need to take into account your ability to maintain the minimum average speed cut off of 20kmh (12.5mph) over the route distance. Therefore an efficient, comfortable and well maintained bike is essential.

What to bring:

Although the event will be supported by Shimano Neutral service, and feed stations en-route, we still recommend that you bring a multi tool, two spare tubes, tyre levers, a working pump and adequate hydration and food. You are strongly advised to bring a mobile phone and a small amount of cash in case of emergencies, enabling you to keep in touch with event organisers. In your registration pack you will find a foldable ride guide that will fit in your jersey pocket that you should keep with you for the duration of the ride, it contains key event emergency numbers.

What to wear:

All riders are advised that it is compulsory to wear a correctly fitting cycle helmet that conforms to current UK safety standards. Sorry, no helmet, no ride.

Because the event takes place on the public road, you are strongly advised to wear hi visibility clothing of some sort. Being that the event is held at the end of May, weather conditions can change rapidly! Therefore, we advise that you wear adequate layers, arm and leg warmers, gilet and a waterproof jacket. We recommend that you wear proper padded cycling shorts and a pair of cycling mitts, both of which will also add to your comfort levels on what will be a long day in the saddle for even the fittest of cyclosportive riders. It has been known to be sunny at that time of year, so make sure you protect yourself with a high factor sun block!

Dropping Out:

If you decide to drop out of the ride for any reason, you must let the organizers know by calling the event contact number published on your ride guide so we can account for you and make arrangements for the return of your timing chip.

Medical Cover:

First-aid cover will be provided by St John’s Ambulance for the whole event. There will also be back-up and sweep vehicles operating throughout for those riders who require them. Should this be the case, please either report to the nearest marshal or call the event organisers on the numbers given in this pack.

Mechanical Cover:

There will be 3 Shimano neutral service vehicles on route and mechanical assistance located at feed stations , you will be charged for parts but we will try to get you back on the road if at all possible.

Refreshments :

Refreshments are provided as follows:

HQ – Pre-booked breakfast will be available from 6:30 am each morning at the HQ. Other refreshments will be available to purchase all day Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 7:00 am. There will be hot/cold drinks, food, cakes, snacks and sandwiches from 10:30 am each day.

En-route – There will be three feed stations en-route, approximately every 40 km (25 miles)

These are provided at the start, finish, and at the feed stations so there will be no need to attend to the call of nature in public! If you are seen urinating at the start, in any urban areas, at feed station or any other public place you will be removed from the event and your details passed to the police. You have been warned!

Are located at the HQ in the leisure center.

After the Finish:

You will finish the event each day at the HQ, once you have passed the finish line (at which point your finish time will be recorded) you are asked to clear the area to allow room for the next finishers. You will be directed through the finish site where you will collect your medal. Your timing chip is disposable so you do not need to hand it back . However if you are riding more than one day please remember not to damage your chip which is located on the back of your number board.

Finish Times:

An alphabetical list of finishers and times will be posted on www.tourofwessex.com the day after the event.

Age categories will be as follows:

A : 18 to 29 years

D: 50 to 59 years

B : 30 to 39 years

E: 60 years and over

C: 40-49 years

F: Para Cycling

* To calculate Women’s age categories add 20 minutes

Time bands are printed in the event program.

The Start/Finish and Registration are all located at Huish Academy, Wincanton Rd, Langport TA10 9SS

The Start/Finish and Registration are all located at Huish Academy, Wincanton Rd, Langport TA10 9SS. Our accommodation will be within short drive or ride from the start/finish unless otherwise advised at the time of booking.

The closest international airports are Bristol (38 miles), Heathrow (100 miles), Southampton (60 miles), Exeter (60 miles).

Drive time: Bristol to event – 40 mins, Heathrow to event 2 hrs.

Train service: From Heathrow take airbus to Reading then a train to Castle Cary or Taunton (Somerset). Or airbus to Woking and a train to Yeovil.

From St Malo, France to Poole, Dorset. 4hr 30 mins Condor Ferries

From central London (120 miles) 2hrs – 2 hr 30 mins. Take the M3 then the A303. At the Podimore roundabout take A372 direction Langport.
From the West take the A303, At the Podimore roundabout take A372 direction Langport.
From Bristol take the M5 to Jct 23, then the A39 direction Street and Glastonbury. At Street take B3151 to Langport.
The nearest train stations are Taunton (14 miles) Castle Cary (17.5 miles), Yeovil (14 miles). Further information can be found at National Rail Inquiries .
From London (Hammersmith) to Taunton ( Berrys Coaches )
From Bristol to Yeovil ( National Express )

We recommend bringing your own bike for this event due to the duration.

Full balance is required 10 weeks before the Tour of Wessex weekend. In addition, we require the names, contact number and email address of each group member. Please ensure all the members of your group have appropriate travel insurance. It is a condition of travel with All Things Ride.

What does your season look like, make a enquiry.

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Alternatively, contact our reservations team directly 0203 488 3114 or [email protected]

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Tour of Wessex 2023

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Tour of Wessex

Saturday 27 May 2023 - Yeovil

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