Velo Birmingham Route Announced
The route for this year’s sold out Velo Birmingham closed road sportive have now been announced. Starting on Broad Street in the heart of Birmingham, the 100 mile fully closed road route will take you from city to country, passing through Herefordshire and Worcestershire via Sandwell, Dudley and Staffordshire.
0 to 25 miles – Upon crossing the start line on Broad Street, you will exit the city centre of Birmingham via the Hagley Road, enabling you to get in a group right from the off and find a comfortable pace as you settle into the ride. The miles will fly by as you make your way through Halesowen and Stourbridge and before long you will find yourself approaching our first Rider Pit Stop, providing you with an opportunity to have a breather, re-hydrate and stock up on some energy products. Up next is the picturesque village of Bewdley – an attractive Georgian town that sits directly upon the River Severn. This is the first of many beautiful towns and villages you will pass through as you complete your epic 100 mile journey and sets the scene nicely for what’s still to come.
25 to 50 miles – Upon leaving Bewdley you will briefly hug the River Severn before entering the sprawling countryside that characterises so much of the route. At mile 30, you will encounter our official King & Queen of the Mountain climb – the notorious Stanford Bank. At just under a mile long with an average gradient of 8%, this is a challenging climb that packs a punch. Upon completion of the KOM challenge your legs will be aching, but your spirits will be lifted by the panoramic views across the spectacular Worcestershire, Hereforshire and Staffordshire countryside. What’s more, you now have some exhilarating descents to enjoy as you make your way towards the second Rider Pit Stop and then the beautiful, un-spoilt market town of Bromyard.
51 to 75 miles – Whilst there are no major climbs, the third quarter of the route is still relatively undulating. Even if you’re feeling strong, we recommend you don’t push the pace too much as there’s still a long way to go and sterner challenges lie ahead. The beautiful scenery that surrounds you will act as the perfect antidote to the lactic acid that will be starting to make its presence felt. The highlight of this section is undoubtedly the Anglo-Saxon settlement of Clifton-upon-Teme, a village and civil parish in the Malvern Hills district of Worcestershire. Upon leaving Clifton-upon-Teme you will enjoy a thrilling descent into Martley before making your way towards the penultimate Rider Pit Stop of the day.
76 to 100 miles – The final push! Despite starting off relatively flat as you make your way through the quaint village of Belbroughton – home of the famous Scarecrow Festival – the elevation soon kicks up as you approach St Kenelm’s pass at mile 85. Stretching over 1.5 miles with an average gradient of 5.2% (max of 10% in some places), there’s no wonder it was a strong contender for our official KOM climb! When you reach the top you will be able to re-fuel at our fourth and final Rider Pit Stop ready for one final push towards the finish line located on Broad Street. Opon receiving your well earned medal, you will be directed into the iconic Barclaycard Arena where you will be able to celebrate with fellow riders, friends and family!