Cycling events on the Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is well known as a unique and special destination for cyclists. The cycling events on the Isle of Wight are a real highlight, so it is worth making the effort to get involved.

In his latest blog post, cycling expert Tim Wiggins looks at some of the most popular road cycling and mountain biking events on the Isle of Wight – a fantastic way to get involved with cycling on the Isle of Wight and all superb ideas for your bucket list.

This charity fundraiser is a great way to see many of the Island’s beautiful views and landscapes. There are three route options available: 68 miles, 100 miles and 136 miles. Will you be a Gladiator, Centurion or Dual Gladiator?

The courses are on signed road routes, with full GPX files provided to give route guidance. This ride is suitable for experienced cyclists, as well as those looking for a challenge. The route will be supported with feed stations, and all cyclists travelling from the mainland will receive a 20% discount on the Wightlink car ferry journeys to Fishbourne.

This is a single route sportive of 76 miles in length, circumnavigating the Island in a clockwise direction. The route packs in sustained climbs and stunning coastal scenery, giving you the best that the Isle of Wight road cycling scene has to offer.

The event will have mechanical support both at the start and during the event. There will be a rolling ‘broom wagon’ to pick up stragglers, and back-up medical support on standby.

Mid-ride feed stations will be provided, as well as hot food at the finish. Live GPS tracking will allow friends and family to follow your progress, and cheer you over the finish line!

Certainly, the oldest and largest organised cycling event on the Isle of Wight is the Isle of Wight Randonnee. It has been taking place since 1985 and now attracts over 3000 participants to take on the 100km (63 mile) clockwise route around the Island.

This year, the organisation of the event has been handed to the Isle of Wight Mountbatten Hospice, who take the baton from the Wayfarer Cycling Club, the guardians and founders of the event for the last 40 years. And it’s moved from May to September.

With multiple volunteer manned feed stations along the route, and a well signposted mix of quiet lanes and famous Isle of Wight hills, this is a must-do event for all enthusiastic cyclists.

The event is a free-to-enter ‘brevet’ style ride, whereby participants collect a route card at one of the multiple checkpoints around the Island and complete the signposted route self-supported—getting their route card stamped at each checkpoint along the way.

The checkpoints also serve as ‘feed stations’, and riders can purchase locally made cakes and drinks in the community run venues around the Island. It is a fantastic way to see the Isle of Wight.

Organised by Glorious Gravel, the UK’s largest gravel event series provider, this one day sportive has three distances (48 km / 66 km / 100 km) to make it accessible for all rider abilities.

With a mix of gravel tracks, secluded lanes and challenging climbs, this event holds something for everyone. Spectacular views and well stocked feed stations frequent the route, and the start/finish is in Freshwater – an easy ride from the Wightlink Yarmouth port.