{"id":447186,"date":"2026-02-01T12:41:23","date_gmt":"2026-02-01T12:41:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/447186\/"},"modified":"2026-02-01T12:41:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T12:41:23","slug":"europes-10-best-cycling-events-stay-motivated-with-these-epic-rides-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/447186\/","title":{"rendered":"Europe’s 10 best cycling events: stay motivated with these epic rides"},"content":{"rendered":"

Having a goal is a great way to stay motivated when training, and picking out a distant event can be enough to power you through the depths of winter.<\/p>\n

While events range in size, distance and attendance, boxing off something big in the calendar, alone or with friends, gives you something to look forward to and train for.<\/p>\n

In this article, we share the top 10 events in Europe that you should circle on your calendar.<\/p>\n

\u00d6tztaler Radmarathon \u2013 S\u00f6lden, Austria
\n\"O\u0308tztalerThe O\u0308tztaler Radmarathon is for serious climbers. Joe Cotterill<\/p>\n

Fresh, rarefied air is the order of the day here, with more than 5,000 metres of Tyrolean Alpine climbing packed into 227km.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Your exertions start in S\u00f6lden before rolling onto this area\u2019s most legendary giants, namely the ascents of K\u00fchtai (17.9km at 6.8%), Jaufenpass (15.5km at 7%) and Timmelsjoch (22.1km at 5%).\u00a0<\/p>\n

To soften the pain, organisers stir up a festival feel, thanks to fireworks, oompah parades, stunt shows, skydiving and even group leg shaving<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Registration opens in February. If you\u2019re lucky (or not), you\u2019ll be one of the 4,000.<\/p>\n

UCI Gravel Switzerland \u2013 Villars, Switzerland
\n\"UCIThere are multiple distance options for the UCI Gravel Switzerland. Joe Cotterill<\/p>\n

There are two routes on offer in Villars, which sits on the doorstep of the UCI (international cycling governing body) headquarters in Aigle.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Go for the 60.2km option, which features nearly 1,900m of climbing, or crank it up to the longer route, which comes in at 101km and nearly 2,500m of climbing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Either way, you\u2019ll be entranced by the beauty of the Vaudois Alps that surround Villars. You\u2019ll also be exasperated by a series of stiff, long climbs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Just over half the parcours of each distance is gravel, with the remainder a pretty equal split between asphalt and older paved roads. It’s an event not to be missed.<\/p>\n

Gran Fondo Mont Ventoux \u2013 Vaison-la-Romaine, France
\n\"GranHaving this event in the planner will get you back on the bike in no time. Joe Cotterill<\/p>\n

Fancy doing battle with the Giant of Provence? If so, you have three routes to the top of the iconic Mont Ventoux: 80, 106 or 135km.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Before you hit the barren upper slopes of this brutal mountain, you can enjoy pedalling through Provence\u2019s stunning landscapes, from lavender fields and vineyards to the dramatic Gorges de la Nesque and quaint Provencal villages.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a truly astounding part of the world to ride a bike in \u2013 and rather exhausting when you come to Ventoux.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sportive Breaks (sportivebreaks.com<\/a>) offers three-night packages starting at \u00a3699, but make sure you factor in that race entry is extra.<\/p>\n

Tour of Flanders Cyclo \u2013\u00a0Antwerp, Belgium
\n\"TourThis event enables you to enjoy the Tour of Flanders route at a relaxed pace. Joe Cotterill<\/p>\n

Of all the mass-participation rides associated with pro racing\u2019s Monuments \u2013 the five most prestigious races on the calendar \u2013 the Tour of Flanders \u2018Cyclo\u2019 is by far the most leisurely.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In Belgium, competitive racing is clearly defined: racing is for races and tours such as the Tour of Flanders Cyclo are all about fun and experiencing the culture of bike riding.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That said, the extent of the \u2018fun\u2019 could be decided by which of the three challenges you sign up for.<\/p>\n

Veneto Gravel \u2013 Veneto, Italy
\n\"VenetoThe Veneto Gravel is an Italian bonanza. Joe Cotterill<\/p>\n

If you felt Strade Bianche<\/a>\u2019s white gravel roads were ominous, that\u2019s nothing compared to Veneto Gravel\u2019s 27% of gravel.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That\u2019s nearly 189km of the white stuff. Around 3% of the parcours \u2013 20-plus kilometres \u2013 is singletrack.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018Testing\u2019 is an understatement, whether you pitch for the 720km or 400km version.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mind you, you\u2019ll enjoy some glorious countryside and enigmatic Venetian cities on your unsupported bikepacking adventure.\u00a0<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll also pass vineyards, orchards, pine forests and azure-blue lakes. In short, picture-postcard doesn\u2019t do this race justice.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There are checkpoints to ensure you\u2019re officially on track, although there\u2019s no official cut-off time. However, the free showers stop on the Wednesday evening!<\/p>\n

Maratona dles Dolomites \u2013 Trentino-South Tyrol, Italy
\n\"MaratonaThe Maratona Dles Dolomites is short on paper, but the climbs are humbling. Joe Cotterill<\/p>\n

The Maratona dles Dolomites is arguably the jewel in the Italian crown. \u201cIt\u2019s only 138km,\u201d we hear you lament.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It is \u2013 as well as 106km and 55km options \u2013 but it\u2019s the vertical challenge that\u2019ll test your mettle, with 4,230m of elevation including the Giau, a 9.9km ascent that averages 9.3%.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Incredible rock formations and lush green valleys offer some natural respite, while the road surfaces are silky smooth.<\/p>\n

Paris-Roubaix Challenge \u2013 Paris, France
\n\"Paris-RoubaixThe Paris-Roubaix Challenge will give you a taster of A Sunday In Hell. Joe Cotterill<\/p>\n

Sample the brutal delights of the Hell of the North over 70km, 145km or 170km.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Do battle with iconic stretches like the Trou\u00e9e d\u2019Arenberg where jagged cobbles that could consume a small human are flanked by leafless trees.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There\u2019s often rows of spectators, too, warming up for the women\u2019s and men\u2019s elite races 24 hours later. But concentrate.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Distraction can lead to a tumble on terrain that shouldn\u2019t be underestimated.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Our colleagues at BikeRadar completed this event years ago and their palms are still vibrating from the experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Prepare for blisters, exhaustion and a shuddering of fun on a parcours that even includes a ceremonial sojourn around the velodrome.<\/p>\n

La Marmotte Granfondo Alpes \u2013 Bourg d\u2019Oisans, France
\n\"LaThe scenery on La Marmotte Granfondo Alpes is epic. Joe Cotterill<\/p>\n

\u201cLa Marmotte begins at sunrise in the heart of Bourg d\u2019Oisans.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Once the starting shot has sounded, the tension makes way for adrenaline and determined pedalling, all to the soundtrack of loud applause.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

So say the organisers, and so begins what many believe is the toughest day imaginable in the saddle.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Who are we to argue when entrants compete against 177 kilometres and more than 5,000 metres of ascending?<\/p>\n

The highlight \u2013 or low point \u2013 of the day is arguably the climb of Alpe d\u2019Huez and its 21 hairpin bends.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Or is it the Col du Glandon that stretches out to 24.1km at 5%? Or the legendary Col du Galibier? You get the picture.<\/p>\n

V\u00e4tternrundan \u2013 Motala, Sweden
\n\"Vatternrundan\"The V\u00e4tternrundan is 315km in distance. Joe Cotterill<\/p>\n

There\u2019s every chance you\u2019ve never heard of the V\u00e4tternrundan.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Unless you\u2019re from Scandinavia, of course, where thousands descend on this event each year \u2013 as they have done since its first running in 1966.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The premise sounds boringly simple: just ride around a lake. And that\u2019s it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But before you turn away, this is the fifth largest lake in Europe, Lake Vattern, meaning the entire loop and length of the ride is 315km.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also one of the most beautiful landscapes in Sweden (south-west of Stockholm), the long, finger-shaped body of water shadowed by spruce, pine and deciduous forest.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This year is its 61st running, so what better time to enter and crank up those long Sunday morning rides?<\/p>\n

Mallorca 312 \u2013 Mallorca, Spain
\n\"MallorcaThe Mallorca 312 is a great way to start the season. Joe Cotterill<\/p>\n

Fancy racking up 312km and over 4,500m of climbing in one day? Of course you do, you bona fide sadist.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For those less inclined towards total self-flagellation, there are shorter but still taxing distances of 225km and 167km.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Unusually, but appreciatively, you can change distance while you\u2019re riding.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For many, that\u2019ll be dropping down. For some, whose legs are oozing power, it\u2019ll mean cranking up.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In times gone by, Mallorca 312 ticked off a lap of the island. Now it\u2019s a closed-road event more focused in the Sierra de Tramuntana mountains to the north of the island.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Guaranteed sunshine makes this a great season opener.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Having a goal is a great way to stay motivated when training, and picking out a distant event…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":445560,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[445],"tags":[49,48,635,82],"class_list":["post-447186","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cycling","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-cycling","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/447186","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=447186"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/447186\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/445560"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=447186"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=447186"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=447186"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}