CycleOps Sportives Marshbrook Preview

Posted Wednesday 8th June 2011 –

The 2nd round of the round of the CycleOps Power Road Sportives series is taking place at Marshbrook on the weekend of the 2-3rd of July, here’s what the organisers have in store.

Two route options are on offer, the full 85 mile route or a shorter 50 mile route and if you’re extra keen there’s the CRC Mountain Marathon event on the Sunday as well.

This 85 mile sportive provides a tour of the Shropshire Hills and Marches – an area around the border of England and Wales.

Heading north from Marshbrook through Little Stretton and into Church Stretton, the ride starts with the notorious Burway Climb. The Burway climbs up the side of Cardingmill Valley precariously perched on a wall of the valley with a precipitous drop to the right. It rises at 20% for 2 miles gaining nearly 300m in height and leaving you high on the top of the Long Mynd. The decent swoops down the west side of the Mynd and heads north on undulating minor roads, and takes in some lanes to navigate the Eastridge Wood which is northern tip of the MTB Marathon. From Minsterley the route winds up the Hope Valley easily gaining height before arriving at the massive table top that is Corndon Hill. Across the border the route passes to the north and west side of Corndon and descends into the small town of Churchstoke.

The short route now drops south and picks up the Montgomery Road to Bishops Castle. The route then meanders its way back to the southern tip of the Long Mynd through rolling country side with one last climb before descending to the finish.

From Church Stroke the long course heads north to Montgomery with its Norman stone Castle perched on a crag of the hill looming above the town. The road winds around the hill and down towards the River Severn and the Montgomeryshire Canal at Abermule.

Heading south the road follows a stream and climbs in the shade up to Glanmule and onto the foot of the Kerry Hill. The road up is a classic winding 3mile climb and crosses the ancient Kerry Ridgway at it’s peak before descending through Anchor and down a fast and winding 8mile blast to Clun. Heading south from Clun the Knighton road throws in 2 hills in quick succession before dropping steeply to the River Teme valley. A minor lane is taken before the town of Knighton and follows the northern side of the river up to Bucknell. The route then uses quiet minor roads to head north through the picturesque undulating Clun Forest which includes open pastures and moorland.

Through the village of Edgton the route then returns to the southern tip of the Long Mynd with one final climb before the finish in Marshbrook.

 

 

 

Entry is £27 for either ride distance or there is also a discounted entry ticket if you want to make a weekend of it and ride both the road and mountain bike events. The entry price includes ride entry, free after ride coffee / tea & cakes, free usage of service stations, free usage of all facilities, free skills and riding tuitions (provided by CycleActive), finishing present, free camping from Friday to Monday and free parking.

For more details and entry –

www.roadsportives.co.uk