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Bookings for Broughton Castle Sportive ahead of expectations
05/07/2021
Hundreds of people set to head to Broughton Castle for the popular cycling event this weekend
This weekend seasoned cyclists and family fun-riders will make their way to Broughton Castle for the return of the Broughton Castle Sportive. The annual cycling event couldn’t happen last year due to the pandemic, but its return for 2021 is proving popular with the number of cyclists pre-booking for the challenge well ahead of normal.
The event is run by the Rotary Club of Banbury Cherwell with around 60 volunteers helping the day to run smoothly.
The idea for the Broughton Castle Sportive was born in 2012 after club members decided to find a new event to replace the beer festival they had been running. As 2012 was the year of the Olympics a cycling event to raise funds for local charities was suggested.
Richard Moyle leads a small group of volunteers who organise the event. Mr Moyle said: “We’re in our ninth year now. If I remember correctly, we had around 450 riders in the first year. At the peak we’ve had 700 riders.
“This year looks very promising as we’ve already got 450 riders booked in which is way more than normal [at this time]. People are quite desperate to get out and ride and get some fresh air. It’s the perfect thing for the current circumstances as basically you’re out in the fresh air all day long.”
For the 2021 Broughton Castle Sportive riders will have a choice of five pre-planned routes around the Cotswolds, ranging from the 5-mile family cycle ride to the 100 mile Cotswold’s Beast. Three of the routes are brand new this year. They all start and finish at Broughton Castle, courtesy of Lord and Lady Saye and Sele.
Refreshments are available on the route and hot food at the end.
Mr Moyle confesses that he has never actually cycled any of the routes as he controls proceedings from Broughton Castle. The routes are chosen by former Banbury Star Cycling Club member Tom Giddings and keen cyclist Alex Lyczkowski – the Group Scout Leader for Grimsbury Scouts who help at the event.
A wide range of ages take part in the popular cycling event, ranging from an 8-year old in the family 5-mile ride to an over 80-year-old on one of the longer routes.
“I would say its very challenging”, said Mr Moyle. “The feedback we get from riders on the 100 mile route is that it is challenging but the hills and the steepness are quite pushing. On the 100 mile route the height gain (7,500 feet) is quite severe. Its not something you just jump on a bike and do!”
Those on the longest 100 mile route will set off soon after 6am with cyclists on the other routes released during the morning.
Between now and Sunday the organisers are asking that anyone wishing to take part signs-up as soon as possible to help them with their planning – more information is available here. Anyone paying on the day will need to use a credit or debit card as the event will be cashless.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam