Best European Sportives

With the unreliable British weather and escalating costs of home-grown sportives, it’s no surprise more riders are combining their competitive cycling fix with holidays in sunnier climes.

Here is our guide to three of the best overseas European sportives, plus one closer to home for those who don’t mind the rain.

Etape du Tour, France.

Considered the most prestigious amateur event in the world because it gives riders the chance to complete a mountain stage of that year’s Tour de France(usually a few days before or after the professionals have ridden it).

The 10,000 places available each year were regularly oversubscribed, so last year an Etape Act II was introduced, allowing double the number of riders to choose between the “Queen” Alpe d’Huez stage or a longer, grinding route through the Massif Central.  This year, the choice was between stages in the Alps or Pyrenees.

When and Where? The Etapes for 2013 will be announced a few days after the official unveiling of the Tour route in October. Registration opens soon afterwards.  The dates they are held usually coincide with weekends or rest days during the Tour.

How much? 70 euros(cheaper for French residents).  A shuttle bus taking you back to the start after you’ve parked your car at the finish the day before costs an extra 12 euros.

What do I get? Access to an impressive Start Village full of bike porn and freebies, a decent goody bag – usually a musette filled with magazines, munchies, bidons and a T-shirt – a medal, certificate and the memory of a lifetime.

Anything else I should know? Unless you book through one of the official – and exorbitantly-priced – tour operators, it can be a logistical nightmare sorting out your travel and accommodation, especially as most Etapes start and finish in remote mountain locations hundreds of kilometres apart and hours from the nearest train station or airport.  But if you’re prepared to spend some serious hours on Google, it’s worth the effort. For me, the 2011 Etape Act I from Modane to Alpe D’Huez was the best cycling experience of my life.

Chances of rain: Alps, 3/10. Pyrenees, 6/10.

Official website: www.letapedutour.com

Maratona dles Dolomites, Italy

Considered the toughest, one-day sportive in Europe, the “Marathon of the Dolomites” offers a choice of three circuits, ranging from 55 km and 1,780 metres of climbing to 138 km and a lung-busting 4,190 metres.  But the pain is worth it, as the scenery – soaring, natural amphitheatres of jagged mountain peaks wherever you look – is jaw-droppingly good.

The longer route takes you over seven mountain passes, including the fearsome Giau with its average gradient of 9.4 per cent.  This year, 29,000 people applied for only 9,000 places.  It’s considered such a big deal the national TV broadcaster, RAI, devotes five hours of live coverage to it.

When and Where? Usually the first Sunday in July, in the Alta Badia region of the Dolomites National Park, a three-hour drive from Venice or Treviso airports. Registration for 2013 opens in October.

How much? 81 euros.  If you don’t want to hire a car, return airport transfers for you and your bike are available for approximately 145 euros.  If you don’t want to take your own bike, carbon frame road bikes can be hired for around 30 euros a day from Break Out Sports in La Villa.

What do I get? A Start Village full of sponsors handing out goody bags, including official race jersey and bidons.  Race numbers include your name. Medal, baseball cap and food at finish.

Anything else I should know?  National Geographic described the Maratona as “one of the biggest, most passionate and most chaotic bike races on earth”.  Prepare for congestion on the first climb, which comes only 7 km after the start. Because the start and finish for all three distances are within a few km of each other, there is no need to worry about arranging transport between the two.  Accommodation and restaurants are plentiful.

Chances of rain? 4/10

Official website: www.maratona.it

Duva International, Spain

This is a two-day, weekend event held on the island of Majorca, including the same roads and climbs(except the Sa Calobra, see below) used by all the ProTour teams during their winter training camps.

Both rides start and finish in the pleasant seaside resort of Puerto Pollensa, an 80-min bus ride from Palma and its airport.  The Saturday ride is 135 km with 2,436 metres of climbing over the island’s biggest mountains.  The Sunday event is a 95 km “recovery” ride with only 680 metres of climbing.

When and where? The dates for 2013 have yet to be confirmed, though it’s usually a weekend in April.  Registration will open in January.  Start and finish from the Duva Hotel in Puerto Pollensa.

How much? £25 per day, or £40 for both. You can hire a carbon frame road bike from Pro Cycle in Puerto Pollensa for about 25-30 euros a day.

What do I get? Basic goody bag(bidon and energy gels) and a free slice of pizza poolside at the Duva Hotel if you sign up for both days.

Anything else I should know? Held under strict Spanish sportive regulations, police motorcyclists operate a rolling road closure and you actually feel like a professional as they hold up traffic for you at road junctions.  The downside is they also enforce a strict maximum speed of around 22 km per hour, which can be frustrating for the keener members of the peloton(especially on the final 20 km descent down to the finish on the Saturday). Also, neither day’s route includes the Sa Calobra, the spectacular twisting road that plunges 700 metres down to a tiny beach and a load of overpriced restaurants. Worth doing on your own before or after the weekend.

Chances of rain? 2/10

Official website: www.wheelsinwheels.com

Cairn O’ Mount Challenge, Scotland

An 80-mile ride through some of Scotland’s least-visited and most beautiful coastal scenery, including a demanding ascent of the 455-metre Cairn O’ Mount(featuring ramps of 14 and 16 per cent).

When and where? It starts and finishes at the foot of the Angus glens in the picturesque town of Edzell(an hour’s drive north of Arbroath, the nearest rail station). Date for 2013 to be confirmed, but usually late May.

How much? £25.

What do I get? Though not a closed-road event, the route takes you down miles of little-used country lanes.  There are two generously stocked feed stations along the way, and a certificate is printed off on site for you at the finish.

Chances of rain? We can’t lie, this is Scotland after all, 9/10.

Official website: www.cairnomountchallenge.org.uk

What are you favourites? Let us know…

Picture featured in the Daily Cycle Flickr Group – added by Chris Walker