New home and new challenge for European Cycle Events sportives

European Cycle Events has launched a new website, thesportivecollection.com, for its UK sportives for 2027.

The new site will host information and entry to the Surrey-based company’s four UK sportives, in a move designed to offer a clear distinction from their popular European cycling trips.

“We have decided to separate our sportives from our trips abroad so both markets have a clear identity and (it’s) easier for our customers to find the event they want,’ explains European Cycling Events director Dudley Samuels.

The 2027 season will kick off with the tried and trusted Spring Onion in April, in what will be the event’s 18th edition. This will be followed by The Cobham Sportive (aka The No Feed 50); a no-frills early season ride with a route based on the furthest a typical cyclist can comfortably cover without a feed stop.

On the 18 July, the Isle of Wight sportive returns with a 122km loop of the island. The company’s sportive season finishes on a high in September at The Surrey Monster, where entrants’ fitness will be put to the test with a 200km (125 miles) route.

With some 3000m (9000ft) of elevation in the Surrey Hills, “this is not an event for riders without a good season behind them or a rider who thinks they can just wing it,” cautions Samuels.

Ride fast, go free

In another new twist for 2027, European Cycle Events have published a set of target times for all four domestic sportives. Any rider who manages to meet all four times at 2027’s events will get free entry to all four events in 2028.

Riders will need to average between 25.5 – 28.5 km/h to earn their reward. The target times are:

• Spring Onion: 4h 00m (27 km/h)
• The Cobham Sportive: 3h 00m (25.5 km/h)
• Isle of Wight: 4h 30m (27.1 km/h)
• The Surrey Monster: 7h 00m (28.5 km/h)

All four UK sportives are now available for booking for 2027. Find out more and enter at www.thesportivecollection.com.