European amateur races?

DeVlaeminck
DeVlaeminck Posts: 8,736
edited February 2014 in Amateur race
I've been thinking about entering a Euro sportive/Gran Fondo just to give me a focus to train for alongside lower cat/LVRC racing. But I have been thinking maybe something like a Masters/Vets stage race or big one day race might make an interesting alternative. I did see a 3 day Santa Susanna Vuelta that looked interesting - anyone know of anything else like that - vets racingin France or elsewhere?

Thanks
[Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]

Comments

  • ju5t1n
    ju5t1n Posts: 2,028
    There's the Masters Cycling Classic in Austria (August)

    http://www.masterswm.org/en/
  • pan280
    pan280 Posts: 88
    There are is also the UCI world cycling tour, http://www.sport.be/uciworldcyclingtour/2014/eng/.
    most events are grandfondos but since they are 'qualifier' events for the world championships there might be an element of competition to them. looks interesting but never tried it myself.
  • cynicalrider
    cynicalrider Posts: 91
    The UCI World Cycling Tour events are mass start, and to all intents and purposes, like a road race in the UK. Except on closed roads and with bigger fields.

    The UK grand fond / sportive experience is really unique in Europe. In most other countries, there are either non-competitive cycle-tourist events, like the Tour of Flanders version, or Gran Fondos with mass starts and significant contribution. Some of the biggest events in Italy approach UCI2.1 events in their difficulty, whilst the depth of teams won't be akin, the top riders are of similar ability. It can even be more lucrative to be a top Gran Fondo rider than a pro on a UCI Continental level team.

    As to Masters road races, there is also the Masters Tour of Majorca in October. Its probably somewhere near a National B in terms of standard. It all depends on whether you want to be competitive. Getting round any race will be easy if you sit in...

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