Which European sportive

bobhitch

I hope to do one european sportive next summer,having done the etape in 2008. I would like to try one of the many others
Which one ?? I don't mind which country it is in so all opinions welcome

cheers bob

Wooliferkins

I did Paris Roubaix 2 years ago. If you can get on it before they give it to the TdF organisers Roubaix cyclingg club do a great job. http://www.vc-roubaix-cyclo.fr/site/ The raid is an MTB version. Translate the pages and have a rootle. They are a well organised club as opposed to a business to make a profit. They copy other classics,enjoy real european cycling

schweiz

Switzerland has the http://www.swiss-radmarathon-challenge.ch/ of which I've done the following:

http://www.alpen-challenge.ch/

220km/4000m or 122km/3000m and you can decide for yourself on the day which one you do. I did it in 2008 and the organisation was good, finding somewhere nice to stay was not a problem. Food stops were well stocked with fruit, energy bars, isotonic drink, water, ice tea and more. There was a plate of pasta halfway round (spaghetti in Tomato Sauce) and the last feed stop was like a WI cake stall. It was a shame that I just didn't feel like eating.

Alpen Brevet

http://www.alpenbrevet.ch/

I actually rode the Silver route pirate :oops: in 2007. I forgot to apply and then to apply on the day was stupidly expensive. The first few km are on closed roads so I joined in after that. The food stations looked well stocked from I saw and the start village had plenty of corporate presence from manufacturers and suppliers. It suffered from bad weather in 2007 and I think every year though despite being in August. It's starts about 30km from my house so finding accommodation wasn't a problem for me!

In 2009 I rode La Marmotte in France http://www.sportcommunication.info/web2010/index.php?langue=2 which was probably the hardest day I've ever spent on a bike. Food and drink always seemed to be available at feed stops and organisation was, on the whole good. Accommodation wasn't the easiest to find, most hotels were booked by the time I applied in February. I did manage to find something through the tourist information office in the end though.

The Granfondo Marco Pantani always seems to get good reviews and I wouldn't mind a crack at the sportive version of the Tour of Flanders.

AndyRubio

I suggest the Marmotte in July. Harder than the Etape, puts hairs on your chest.

andrew@snowrace

The quebrantehuesos is good fun 120 miles lots of climbing great atmosphere 8000 riders weather can be a little unpridictable. We will be doing it again in 2011 let me know if I can help with entrys, logistics etc Andy

wombler

If you fancy Italy there was a thread on here a while back with loads of Italian gran fondo recommendations. Search the forum for "Italian sportive"...

blim

Tour of Flanders sportive is very well run and a hell of a challenge. then watch the pros the next day! http://www.sport.be/cyclingtour/rondevanvlaanderen/2010/eng/ (this year's event - usually updated in the autumn)

Bronzie

If you're not particularly fond of climbing, try the Gran Fondo Milan Sanremo - it follows the MSR route so it's long (c.180 miles) but goes off like a road race with about 700 starters when I did it in 2006. Quite a blast.

pmannion9

Granfondo Sportful Italy
Brilliant ride..

Italiano

Granfondo Eddy Merckx or Granfondo Avesani.

Cakegirl

Another vote for the Granfondo Avesani. I got a push up a steep bit for 100m from Eros Poli this year!
Not the biggest one, but starts and finishes outside the Arena in Verona where this year's Giro finished, and last hill is the Torricelle from the Verona Worlds circuit. After that the roads are closed and you're flying into the city centre over cobbles and down twisty side streets - fantastic.
We stayed at the Hotel Veronello on Lake Garda - part of Italy Bike Hotels. Great place and nice riding for a week out there. Plus easy to fly to Verona airport. Recommended!

pinchazomike

Without a doubt it has to be La Marmotte and with the Tour taking in the Galibier in 2011 you can do a part Etape at the same time. The organisation and support is superb.

risi

This guy has done quite a few:

http://www.flammerouge.je/content/6_cyc ... cyclos.htm

Plenty of writeups on there which might help you decide.

est.1984

risi wrote:

This guy has done quite a few:

http://www.flammerouge.je/content/6_cyc ... cyclos.htm

Plenty of writeups on there which might help you decide.

Excellent website...definately a lot of food for thought in there! Thanks.

galatzo

http://www.oetztaler-radmarathon.com/

Made a mess of me !

Tom Butcher

Anyone done the Ardechoise or got a review of it they could share ? I've read the one linked above but I'm not totally clear how big an event it is - I've read 15k riders but looking for a results list on the web there are only a few hundred in each ride.

phreak

I did the Maratona dles Dolomites this year and found it fantastic fun. Some cracking climbs, wonderful weather, closed roads and Dogma's everywhere. What more could you want? Oh and Mario Cippolini did it as well 8)

dag_on_a_bike

Tom Butcher wrote:

Anyone done the Ardechoise or got a review of it they could share ? I've read the one linked above but I'm not totally clear how big an event it is - I've read 15k riders but looking for a results list on the web there are only a few hundred in each ride.

I still haven't done the Ardechoise but it is an event that really appeals.

Yes, it is supposed to be one of the largest, if not the largest, in Europe at 15,000+.

See here:

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12641378&highlight=

rongob

You could try the TIME-MEGEVE in the french alpes,great orginisation.

Kléber

Tom Butcher wrote:

Anyone done the Ardechoise or got a review of it they could share ? I've read the one linked above but I'm not totally clear how big an event it is - I've read 15k riders but looking for a results list on the web there are only a few hundred in each ride.

It's 15,000 but there are different loops today. Everyone starts and finishes in the same town but I think you can do something like 50km... or 250km. It's hilly, very hilly but not mountainous.