I want to get into long distance bike racing (unsupported races of >400km), but it looks like I've missed the boat for 2019. So I'm planning my 2020 calendar instead.
Right now I am committed (though haven't paid for) Race Across the Netherlands, but I'm also interested in 'gravel' racing, with my beloved chonkster being suitable for moderate off-roading, particularly if I put stumpy wheels and wider tyres on it, though I don't think much wider than 35mm. However I can borrow a 26"er hardtail with room for much fatter tyres if things are looking dramatic. I could also potentially get a wider fork, with 650b or 26" wheels there would be lots of clearance front and back.
I do not fly so everywhere would need to be within convenient riding, train or ferry distance from London.
Some other races I'm interested in, maybe they'll be of interest to you too:
Gravel Tro Greizh (early May), a 1400 km gravel race in France
http://graveltrobreizh.fr/Across the 3 (early May), a 500 km gravel race across Belgium, Luxemburg and Germany
https://www.act5.be/copy-of-about-act3-2 - I think this may be a better pick than GTG for training purposes.
All points North (late May), the well known road race in England.
Transatlantic Way (early June) in Ireland - this one interests me but it's seemingly very soon after APN so unsure if it would be a wise move
https://www.transatlanticway.com/the-route/Tannus bikepacking race (late June) in Germany - more an off road MTB race, 800 km long, with 14,000m climbing.
https://taunus-bikepacking.com/GBduro (late June), 2000 km gravel across the UK so obviously that's a clash with the German one.
https://www.theracingcollective.com/gbduro.htmlThe transcontinental race (early July), >3000 km, start/finish unknown. I am unsure if I would want to do it next year, might rather do GBduro and the panceltic instead and aim for TCR in 2021.
Pan celtic race (early July), 2400 km across Scotland/Ireland/Wales
https://www.pancelticrace.com/route/Across the 5 (late July), 1200 km, 19,000 of climbing, off-road across Belgium, France, Luxemburg, Germany and the Netherlands
https://www.act5.be/copy-of-about-act3Transiberica race (early September), which goes right the way around Spain and Portugal, free route
https://www.transiberica.cc/transiberica-2019/ The Trans Pyrenean (unconfirmed, probably early October), 1500 km across the Pyrenees and back
https://transpyrenees.cc/ I am supporting the 2019 one as a volunteer so hopefully would get a place if I felt up for it.
PreparationI aspire to do the best I can, so in the time between now and the 2020 race season, will use a mixed calendar of Cyclocross, road criterium and XC MTB racing and audax rides to get quicker and stronger. Ideally I'd resume twice/thrice weekly barbell strength training to resist injury. I will be adopting a training place from Ridefar
https://ridefar.info/rider/training/training-plan/And of course I'll have to save up cash in order to compete in the races