The Epic Dorset 100 mile Etape – with “Sharks Teeth”! The Dorset 100 mile Etape is a new cycle sportive event which has been added to the established Rotary Dorset Bike ride in aid of Cancer Research UK and takes place on Sunday 7th September. There are still less challenging routes of 75, 50, 30, 20 and 10 miles. The Dorset 100 mile Etape organised by the Rotary Club of Wareham has been created in conjunction with Purbeck Peloton Cycle Club and has been designed to provide a real challenging course for the hardened cyclists. The route is mainly on country lanes to ensure riders can enjoy the fantastic views of Dorset countryside but also takes in all the big climbs in Dorset. The 100 mile route has a total climb of just over 7000 feet which is similar to other challenging rides like the Dartmoor Classic and Dragon Ride. However Andrew Robson and Mark Singleton of the Purbeck Peloton Cycle Club who have both ridden the course thinks the Etape is the most challenging ride on the south coast but the route keeps off busy roads and has amazing views of the Dorset hills and Jurassic coast. The event starts from Longthorn Campsite, next to Monkey World, heading through Wool to Stobourgh then down to Church Knowle, across to Corfe Castle, through the beautiful Arne area back to Wareham, along Puddletown Road down the lanes to Bere Regis, up to Milborne St Andrews, from Milton Abbas a big climb of 900 feet to the highest point in Dorset up Bullbarrow Hill before descending down to Cheselbourne, over the Piddle Valley where the 75 mile route splits then on to Cerne Abbas and Maiden Newton. The rolling countryside create a “sharks teeth” profile with a climb up Eggardon Hill from Maiden Newton and very long downhill towards to Uploaders where the route then heads south via Shipton Gorge, east along the country lanes through Long Bredy up towards Hardy’s Monument and a speedy downhill to Portesham, before heading west to Broadmayne on to Moreton, down to Owermoigne, on to Lulworth back up to Wool and return to Longthorn Farm. The 100 mile Etape route creates a true challenge for the hardened cyclist and we truly believe this will become a “must do” sportive in the cycling calendar especially due to the toughness of the route. The route map can be studied on the web site. The 75 mile route follows the same route, but splits at Piddletrenthide after the 900 foot climb and down to Puddletown, missing the 4 steep hills, before re-joining the 100 route . The 50 mile route is less challenging than the 75, while the 30, 20 and 10 mile routes are relatively flat. The Rotary Club of Wareham have organised two previous cycle events and the feedback from riders has praised how well and professionally the events have been organised. The event is to raise funds for Cancer Research UK. Although it is not compulsory to raise sponsorship for the event however we hope many will. For details and to enter go to dorset-bike-ride.co.uk.
Posted on: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 12:39:59 +0000
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