Sprint legend Mark Cavendish has announced the launch of his own official sportive, taking place for the first time in Cheshire this August after the Tour de France. The Rise Above sportive will be held on Sunday 9 August and will feature a closed-road start on the cobbled streets of Chester.
Linking scenic forestry roads with breathtaking views and iconic Welsh landscapes, the organisers promise challenging climbs and inspiring countryside culminating in a closed roads finale in Chester city centre. Entries are now open with an earlybird rate of £31.50 available until 28 February.
Three distances are on offer, with riders able to choose from a 185km 'Extremist' course, the 120km 'Purist' route or a shorter 85km 'Enthusiast' course. The 185km route promises to be a stern test with riders tackling over 2700m of climbing before finishing, perhaps unsurprisingly, with a flat finale that should favour the sprinters. Cav himself will be riding on the day, giving armchair racers a chance to test their mettle against the 25-times Tour stage winner.
Both the Purist and Extremist routes feature the iconic climb of Horseshoe Pass, with the longer distance also including the quiet roads and stunning scenery around Llyn Brenig and Clocaenog Forest.
Speaking about the new event Mark Cavendish said, "I'm very excited to launch the inaugural Rise Above Sportive. We first discussed the idea 18 months ago and have been going through the planning process ever since. I've pushed everyone involved to deliver an event that will provide the participants with a real premium rider experience.
"Our plan is to eventually have a fully closed road event so it was key for me to have some closed road sections in the inaugural one. I'm super happy that the Chester County Council have kindly agreed to close some cobbled streets in and out of the city centre. The parcour we've chosen for all three routes will be really special and testing for any level of rider.
"Longer term, I have a vision to grow the Rise Above Sportive to a two-day cycling festival in the years to come. I hope to see you there after the Tour de France."
A share of the proceeds from the sportive will be donated to the event's two official charity partners, Right to Play and Help for Heroes.
Entries are open now via the official website, www.riseabovesportive.com. For riders who want to sign up straight away there will be an 'Early Bird' special from 28th January to 28th February 2015. Riders who sign up during this period will receive a 10% discount on the standard entry fee of £35.
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