UK Sportives

Reviews of the UK's biggest and best cycling sportives. The Velothon, The Dragon Ride, the Tour de Yorkshire, Ride London and more. We cover the climbs, the descents, the joy, the pain, and the beers that make it all better.

UK Sportives

The Essex Season Ender

A final fling of the year and the end of a cycling era. But there's no time for idle chat when you're flogging yourself around the lanes of Essex in pursuit of an elusive (virtual) gold medal.

UK Sportives

The Tour of the Peaks

Following two fantastic years of the Tour of the Roses, we're expanding our little franchise with the inaugural Tour of the Peaks. Three days, riding with soon-to-be friends in the stunning Peak District National Park.

UK Sportives

The Kentish Killer Sportive

The Kentish Killer celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2020. What makes this endurance event such an enduring favourite? And given the storms sweeping the country, would we live to find out?

UK Sportives

The Tour of the Roses

The Tour of the Roses is a small, social and super-challenging ride through three of the UK's most beautiful cycling regions: the Yorkshire Dales, Lake District and Forest of Bowland. Even better, it's organised by Broleur.

UK Sportives

L’Etape UK Sportive

OK, so L'Etape UK may not cover an alpine stage of the Tour de France, but squint and the Chilterns are every bit as beautiful. Arriving in tip-top form, a fast time was a foregone conclusion, right?

UK Sportives

The Evans RIDE IT London Sportive

Sometimes you need to take a break from the virtual world of Zwift. The Evans Cycles RIDE IT London Sportive provided the perfect opportunity. Broleur, keeping it real since 2012.

UK Sportives

The Wiggle Kent Classic

Back on home turf, the Wiggle Kent Classic provides the perfect opportunity to scale our beloved Kent Alps. Would we reach the peaks or descend into a mid-life crisis?

UK Sportives

The London to Brighton Bike Ride

The London to Brighton bike ride is perfect for those wanting to dip their toe in shallow sportive waters, rather than jump straight in at the deep end. Roll up and ride on.

UK Sportives

The Etape Caledonia Sportive

It's a challenge in itself to think of a UK sportive that combines such excellent organisation, gorgeous scenery and welcoming people as the Etape Caledonia. Definitely a Broleur favourite.

UK Sportives

The Tour de Yorkshire Sportive

As born-and-bred Lancastrians and long-time Londoners, we're naturally scornful of Yorkshire’s superiority complex. Sadly, in the case of the Tour de Yorkshire sportive, it's totally justified.

UK Sportives

The Hell of the Ashdown

The Hell of the Ashdown is the home counties' answer to Paris-Roubaix. If frozen February riding is your thing, you should come and have a go - if you think you're hard enough.

UK Sportives

The Velo Birmingham Sportive

Velo Birmingham is one of the few closed-road sportives in the UK - and given the number of local complaints, there may not be too many more. Shame, because the ride - and the support - did the midlands proud.

UK Sportives

Revolve24, Brands Hatch

A team of five middlish-aged men cycling for 24 hours non-stop around the Brands Hatch track. A winning formula or a recipe for disaster? See how the newly formed team Broleur fared at Revolve24.

UK Sportives

The Tour of the Hills Audax

I couldn't sleep. The same thoughts kept circling around like vultures in my head. Where do I go from here? What's the point? What comes next? What does it all mean? They weren't existential questions that were bothering me. Oh no, it was far

UK Sportives

The Dragon Ride L'Etape Wales

The Dragon Ride is a mythical Welsh beast. With a fearsome sawtooth profile and the finest rosemary salted roast potatoes you could ever taste. What does it take to slay the dragon?

UK Sportives

The Tour Ride Worcestershire

Lining up at the start of a sportive is always a nervy affair for me. I look around at the opposition and separate the wheat from the chaff. 'Shaved legs, he must be good', 'That's a Fred Whitton jersey, they're going to be

UK Sportives

The Wiggle New Forest Sportive

The New Forest Sportive is perfect for the novice cyclist or someone attempting their maiden century. But there's little to get the blood pumping or the stomach churning - as least, as long as you're there on time...

UK Sportives

The Wolfe of Westerham

Cycling is booming. And those trying to cash in on the boom divide neatly into two types. Those trying to make something of their passion. And those trying to make something out of other people's passions. There's a place for Evans and Wiggle and the sportives

UK Sportives

The Tour of Lancashire's Circuits

It was meant to be a triumphant homecoming. A wave-to-the-crowds sort of affair as the prodigal Londoner son returned to his Lancashire roots. Instead, I ended up taking selfies as I necked a pint of frothy mead in a country pub while massaging my cramping and aching quads. I was

UK Sportives

The Tour of Wessex

A half-term family get-together in Dorset to celebrate the brothers' mother's 70th birthday. We love our Mum, she's ace. Lyme Regis has an awful lot going for it too. But when we discovered the Tour of Wessex was departing a mere 27 miles from our

UK Sportives

The Puncheur Sportive

The Puncheur sportive has become something of a traditional early-season challenge for Broleur. It's one of the few UK sportives to set target times for entrants. Summit Ditchling Beacon in under 4 hours and you bag metaphorical gold.

UK Sportives

The Wiggle Spring Saddle

"Go! Just go!" Three simple words, but they signified a sea-change in attitude, as the other brother urged me to drop the hammer and drive for the finish line of the Wiggle Spring Saddle. In previous organised rides, it was different. The emphasis was on crossing the line

UK Sportives

The Ride London 100

It's enough of a challenge getting a place in the RideLondon ballot, but is it as difficult to complete the route? Traffic is certainly not a problem, but you may still find yourself in a jam.

UK Sportives

The Velothon Wales

Any sportive featuring the notorious Tumble and Caerphilly Hill has got to be worth a crack. But would les Broleurs crack on the Velothon Wales? See what's occurring in the Brecon Beacons.

UK Sportives

The London Revolution

Our first big event together. Circumventing London over two days wasn't exactly an easy intro in to the world of unprofessional cycling, but at least we weren't taking the M25.