MAKE sure you put this date in your diary: Etape Royale on September 27. Two years in the making, the closed-road cycling sportive in Aberdeenshire is brand new for 2015.
Organised by Wildfox Events, Etape Royale offers two options: a 100-mile circular route starting and finishing in Ballater and a 65-mile linear route which begins in Rhynie then follows a traffic-free path via Dufftown, the Lecht and back to Ballater on the banks of the River Dee.
Event director David Fox-Pitt has already done a brilliant – and hilarious – recce by Penny Farthing on which he was joined by Scottish adventurer Mark Beaumont who is an ambassador for the sportive. Here David gives the lowdown on what participants can expect.
Tell us a bit about the Etape Royale closed-road sportive and what the routes entail?
It was important to choose a stunning part of Scotland with a big hill – the Lecht. According to Mark Beaumont, it must be a century in terms of mileage or kilometres which is becoming an iconic thing and a real challenge for cyclists.
A lot of research has gone into planning the route and we really believe both the 65-mile (100km) and 100-mile routes are stunning and will be a long-term success.
What can people expect?
Cyclists will be travelling through some of the most stunning parts of Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire and Moray. It is a beautiful and relatively under-discovered part of Scotland.
Riders can expect a wide variety of terrain and breathtaking scenery with more than 9,000 feet ascent for the 100-mile route culminating in the Lecht.
How many participants will there be on the day?
We are expecting more than 1,000 riders for the inaugural Etape Royale.
You have cycled the route on a Penny Farthing joined by Mark Beaumont. What was that like?
Last month Mark and I completed the full 100 miles on Penny Farthings in less than 13 hours – despite a cracking header descending the Lecht after 80 miles.
The views from the Penny Farthings are stunning and the toughest part was ascending hills as there are no gears. Descending can also be treacherous and a combination of the large wheel disc brake and reverse peddling are essential.
What is your favourite part of the route?
There are many for me including cruising along Royal Deeside in the early hours, descending the Suie before Rhynie, the remote Cabrach and descending the Lecht with a wonderful downhill glide into Ballater via Gairnshiel.
Penny Farthings will be strictly forbidden on the day and I won't riding on September 27 myself as I have to focus on organising the event.
Our Penny Farthing ordeal raised more than £5,000 for the earthquake victims of Nepal.
Is it your goal to make this an annual event?
We hope very much that the local community will embrace the event and as it grows we will be able to put more back into the community. For the first year, 10 per cent of every registration fee will go towards local charity projects.
As the event grows we want to encourage participants to raise money for local and national charities. Where possible we will engage local business to supply services and food for the event.
How did your own involvement in cycling begin?
I have always cycled from an early age and my recent 100 miles on a Penny Farthing was my longest distance ever – and the first time in Lycra. It is a great way to keep fit and see some beautiful parts of the world.
What is your motto on the bike?
Keep going.
How would you describe your cycling style?
Unorthodox.
What is your top cycling tip?
Eat and drink little and often. Make training fun.
Mark Beaumont is an ambassador for the Etape Royale and joined David on the epic Penny Farthing outing dubbed #pennyopain. He will be taking part in the event on September 27.
"I had never ridden the roads from Ballater, around the Cairngorms and the Lecht, and was so impressed with the staggering scenery and challenging cycling,” said Beaumont.
“The Etape Royale has the potential to become one of the best road cycling events in the calendar and I look forward to pedalling it again.
“First time around I was on a Penny Farthing, which was a painful feat of endurance that I enjoyed for then novelty, but don't feel the need to try again.”
The Etape Royale takes place on September 27. For more information, visit etaperoyale.com
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