It's a new dawn for The Stone Circle, with the gravel cycling festival poised to return in 2025 after being rescued by former employees.
Based at Old Sarum near Salisbury, The Stone Circle may only have launched in 2023 but after just two editions it established itself as a standout weekend in the UK cycling calendar.
A spectacular 200km route, held close to the summer solstice, the Stone Circle led past Stonehenge and a host of other historic landmarks, before returning to Old Sarum Hill Fort for a midsummer party.
Disaster struck when event organisers Hotchillee announced closure in August, with the cancellation of all future rides. However, four former Hotchillee employees, all creditors of the business, couldn't stand to see The Stone Circle disappear; they started a new company and will deliver the next edition on 27-29 June 2025.
Hailed as "the UK's best gravel cycling event" (Matt Stephens) and as "the gravel jackpot" by, well, us, The Stone Circle is a weekend festival of gravel cycling, featuring three route options, camping, DJs, pizza, craft beers, carefully selected event partners, a fancy dress hill climb and prizes focused on inclusivity and fun.
Officially launched in 2023, participant numbers rose rapidly to 900 by year two, and it's anticipated that the 1,000 entries in 2025 will fill up fast.
The new company consists of an organising team with over 40 years of combined industry experience, promising the same exceptional festival weekend and, with the continued support of key event sponsors, some exciting new additions.
"We have been inundated by people asking what is happening and I'm delighted to announce The Stone Circle will return in 2025," says Jane Fairley, Event Director.
"Since year one, I've loved being part of the event and watching it grow - not just in terms of participants, but it keeps getting more and more fun too. Our gravel community is special to us, and we felt a duty to continue to provide them with the chance to ride and party together in 2025 and beyond.
"We've got big plans for next year - it's going to be the best Stone Circle yet."
The event will take place between 27-29 June 2025 from the same English Heritage hilltop fort of Old Sarum and include The Jester (80 km), The Rebel (130 km), and The Bastard (220km) route options.
Key features of The Stone Circle include a sunrise passing of Stonehenge, a mixture of exclusive US-style gravel through MOD land, single track, bridleways, forest trails, farmyard tracks and quintessential English countryside on this two-wheeled adventure through history.
Priority entry is now open via the www.stonecircle.cc mailing list. General Early Bird entry is on sale from tomorrow, 21 November until Friday 5 December 2024 with weekend tickets from £90.
Find out more and enter at www.stonecircle.cc.
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