Broughton Castle Sportive 2023

The Broughton Castle Cycling Sportive 2023 starts and returns to the grounds of Broughton Castle, near Banbury, with four stunning Sportive routes 100 mile, 50 mile, 75 mile and 20 mile winding their way through the North Cotswold Hills. This event offers a challenge for every level of cyclist. 

If you enjoy cycling with others as a team, then our “Team Rider Challenge” will appeal to you. The "Team Rider Challenge" is available to all riders except the 20 mile route. A trophy will be presented to each winning team. 
To promote real teamwork within the group – the winning team will be based on the time of the fourth rider home. To enter the “Team Rider Challenge”, you must be a team of a minimum of 4 and maximum of 6 riders, all cycling the same route and have registered as a team on the website prior to the event date.

Sportive Route Details:

“Family Fun Ride” 10km / 5.5 miles: no need to register online as entry is payable on the day. A flat(ish) family friendly route around the quiet roads and tracks immediately surrounding the Castle.

“Cotswold Tour 20” 32km / 20 miles through undulating North Oxfordshire ironstone countryside - the course winds its way through the villages of Shutford and Epwell. There are no big hills on this route we promise, but by the nature of the terrain it will be a challenge if you've not done much cycling before. There will be one feed-station on the route at approximately half distance. The Cotswold Tour 20 might suit people who are new to Sportive cycling or medium ability but who still want a good cycling challenge. 

“Cotswold Classic 50” 80km / 50 miles: This extremely well signed route has been designed to incorporate several classic hill climbs for the more regular cyclist who is accustomed to riding a challenging and hilly terrain. There will be one feed-station on this route at the 25 mile point at Moreton in Marsh. The route is a testing ride, and you should expect it to take somewhere between 3 - 5 hours.

“Windrush Endurance 75” 120km / 75 miles: This extremely well signed route has been designed for the rider who is looking for a ride more demanding than the 50-mile route but not so challenging as the 100-mile route. This route includes two major hills climbs. There will be two feed stations on this route the first located at the 25-mile point and the second at 50 miles.

“Cotswold Beast 100” 160km / 100 miles: This extremely well signed route will be one of the most challenging rides that you will complete all year. The course takes in several classic hill climbs in the area but is also full of smaller notoriously leg sapping Cotswold lumps and bumps, which the area is famous for in the cycling world.

There will be three feed stations on this route the first located at the 25-mile point at Moreton in Marsh the second at the 60-mile point at Guiting Power and the third at the 80-mile point back at Moreton in Marsh.

The “Beast” is really for the serious cyclist. It's recommended that you train for this ride to complete the distance.

Riders on the Cotswold Beast 100 will be required to start between 7am and 7.30am.

General Information

The event includes        

• Medical support
• Free car park at start/finish venue
• Sweep vehicle for those who cannot complete the route
• Well-stocked feed stations
• Electronic chip timing
• Finisher’s medal
• Electronic timing on all major routes
• Food voucher for returning cyclists

The event is organised by Banbury Cherwell Rotary Club which is a Voluntary Service Organisation. All net proceeds from this event will be donated to local charities.

Looking forward to seeing you at Broughton Castle on Sunday July 9th 2023

Full route maps and downloadable Strava maps for GPS devices can be found on the event website:

http://www.broughtoncastlesportive.co.uk