Three Counties Sportive

A number of our members enjoyed a sportive last Sunday. Congratulations to all who completed. We are grateful to John Abbott for this account of how his day went. 

The Three Counties Sportive was a great event run by WildDog Events last Sunday.   There were two great courses starting from Uppingham on offer with a 100km (1143m climbing) option within Rutland, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire and the 50km (699m climbing) option within Rutland, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.  35 riders took on the 50km route and a further 39 rode the 100km.

Inspired by the Yates twins fantastic performance in the Tour de France the day before, Juanma Cancelo and I took off round the 100km Three Counties Sportive together in what initially felt like but I’m sure didn’t look like a similar fashion to them! We made very good time (for us!) to the first two checkpoints/feed stations and it felt great pulling each other along the well signed route on great roads through lovely countryside.  However we were soon plucked from our dreams and reminded of our sub grand tour abilities by a headwind on the return to Uppingham and the accumulation of miles with a few stinging hills towards the end of the course.   Nevertheless we enjoyed the ride immensely and were pleased with our finishing time well within the gold medal time limit.

Finishers arrived back to a party atmosphere in the square in Uppingham with The Top Banana Band banging out the tunes.  Many cyclists with their friends and families enjoyed food and cold beers from The Olive Kitchen and the pubs around the square.  All in all it was a great day and is a sportive I would highly recommend to any cyclists who want to explore our lovely Welland Valley and its surrounding areas.   The organisation was great and all participants were well looked after throughout the day by the organisers.