http://road.cc/content/news/217860-great-britain-gets-its-own-5000-km-plus-ultracycling-race-called-baa-baaRace against the clock - 1 Stage - The Longest Unsupported Bikepack Event in Europe.
No prizes, just honour.
June 29th 2018
3329 miles(5340 km)
197965ft climbing (60,340m)
70 of Great Britains 200 hardest climbs in one event
3 Countries
3 Capital Cities
12 National Parks
Where you sleep is up to you.
It is a small island? Yeah right, try riding round it on a bike...Now is your chance.
snip:
Race starts in Chester in June 2018 and will take in 70 of Britain's hardest climbs
reat Britain will next year get its own ultracycling race for unsupported riders – and clocking in at more than 5,000 kilometres and with more than 60 kilometres of climbing the unsupported event, called the Baa Baa Bikepack race, could be a cracker.
It begins in Chester on 29 June 2018 and follows a clockwise route up to the north of Scotland, back down through the east of England and along the south coast into Devon and Cornwall, then into Wales and, via the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia, back to the start.
Along the way it will visit three capital cities – Edinburgh, London and Cardiff – and riders will also have to tackle 70 of Great Britain’s 200 toughest climbs, listed here (link is external)together with more details of the route.
Ascents tackled include the Hardknott Pass, Honister Pass, Glen Coe, Bealach Na Ba, the Buttertubs Pass, Ditchling Beacon, Zig Zag Hill, Gold Hill, Haytor Vale, Cheddar Gorge, Caerphilly Mountain, The Tumble, Gospel Pass and The Devil's Staircase.
According to organisers, “We expect the winner to finish the course in about 12-13 days, sleeping wherever and whenever they can.”
There’s a bit of a twist when it comes to the route, however, which takes in 12 National Parks.
“The course also has 100 miles off road across the South Downs Trail which adds an extra element to the ride as bike selection will not favour a TT or fast road setup,” they say.
Already, 30 riders have signed up since the event was announced last week, including entrants from the United States, South Africa and Turkey, and organisers say that “a lot of the initial interest [is] coming from Transcontinental Race and Trans America Race competitors.”
There is also a shorter event, named The Shandy Drinkers, on a 3,200 kilometre course that misses out Scotland for those who may be pushed for time.
As well as individuals, both events are also open to people riding as a pair, who will be allowed to draft one another.
Find out more here:
www.bikepack.cc