a late summer challenge on tarmac or gravel

Sorry for the delay! It’s taken a while due to uncertainty of the availability of our previous venue. The good news is that we will be running the event from Hose Village Hall, the home to our Startline Leicestershire event which is perfectly placed for this trip into England’s smallest County and back - on tarmac of gravel!

Please note we are working on the routes and whilst we don’t expect a lot of change apart from the start and end sections, the distances quoted / shown are provisional as are the maps - but we aim to keep them around the same as last year.

As with all our events, the Rutland Border Epique is a fully supported challenge on the best roads Leicestershire and Rutland has to offer or on the best of the gravel and off road that largely runs alongside the on-road routes! (see below).

Choose from either 100, 68 or 45 miles on the road, or 56 or 42 miles of gravel routes - there’s a route for everyone and all routes have at least on feed station.

Once you’ve started your ride you’ll soon find yourself on quiet yet challenging terrain. The area is full of punchy climbs that come thick and fast, so there is always something to think about. No long, dull, flat sections here.  Some canal paths a steep gravel climb and some great forest tracks get the gravel rides underway without delay!

Travelling East from Hose you’ll skirt past Belvoir Castle as you head towards Rutland. A feed awaits all routes in the village of Buckminster and the long route then heads around Rutland Water before heading back over some lumpy sections - aided by a second feed in the village of Owston though!

At least one indoor feed station per route will be provided with a variety of sweet and savoury items including Pork Pies from Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe and we cater for all dietary requirements including Vegan, Vegetarian etc (you will be asked to inform us of requirements before the event). Hot and Cold drinks will be served as well as High Five Energy to fill your bottles before heading back out.

Gravel Routes:
Why not take on one of the two gravel rides? Following on from last year where we ‘dipped our toe’ into the world of gravel sportives, we are working on two great routes that will also run alongside and join up with the road routes in many places and visit the same feed stations. The route has mainly wide tracks, with a touch of singletrack and most of the tracks are gravel but there are a couple of great wooded sections to tackle.  Note that we will monitor conditions approaching the event and advise you accordingly should any of the very few sections that could get muddy become difficult. You’ll be able to choose the sections you ride if necessary as you will always be able to continue on the road route. 

Once back to the HQ, we’ll re-fuel you with delicious hot food and tea / coffee as always!

The ride will start at 0800 for the long route, followed by the medium route & both gravel routes at 0830, and finally the short road route between 0845 & 0930

Full support is offered throughout the day all included in the fee - which also includes parking.

FEED STATIONS AT VILLAGE HALLS
POST-EVENT FOOD & DRINK
MECHANICAL SUPPORT AND SUPPORT VEHICLES
ELECTRONIC TIMING
FINISHERS MEDAL
PARKING
FIRST AID SUPPORT
ON COURSE PHOTOGRAPHER (photo's available to purchase post event from Charles Whitton Photgraphy)

EVENT FEATURES