The Lapierre White Roads Classic is a 112km-long sportive which takes in 15km of white gravel and chalk roads on and around The Ridgeway in Oxfordshire; an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Entries are now open for the Lapierre ‘White Roads Classic’ – a tough 115 km (72 mile) sportive inspired by what is possibly the most beautiful professional bike race in the world: the Italian one-day Classic known as the Strade Bianche. This race is held annually in the hills of Tuscany in early Spring, and its most distinctive feature is the inclusion of several old white gravel roads or ‘strade bianche’, which are becoming as iconic as the cobbled roads of Roubaix and Flanders.

The White Roads Classic similarly features sectors of white gravel and chalk roads (nine in total, ranging from 1300m to 2600m in length) on and around the Ridgeway National Trail in Oxfordshire. The Ridgeway is the oldest road in Britain, dating back at least 5000 years. It sits atop the spectacular chalk downland of the North Wessex Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which, on a sunny day, bear a striking resemblance to the hills of Tuscany. All of the roads used on the route are relatively traffic-free, with the majority of the White Road sectors being closed to all traffic.

The event will have an Italian theme, with a variety of Italian foods, espresso, and a glass of prosecco for every finisher. Feed stations, a broom wagon and medical support will be provided. There is also the option of a shorter 65 km (40-mile) route, which skips sectors 8 and 9 and the first feed station, but is otherwise the same as the full 112 km route.

The White Roads Classic will be held on Sunday 12 July 2015. Entries are priced at £25. You can sign up using British Cycling’s online entry system – click on the red ‘ENTER’ button below. The event is promoted by Cycle Classics, who organized the recent Tour of the Black Country, a Roubaix-inspired sportive, featuring 12 cobbled sectors and a velodrome finish and the Cheshire Cobbled Classic, which includes several steep cobbled climbs, including the infamous 45% Corkscrew.

At a Glance
  • 12 Jul 2015 8:00am
  • Tickets On Sale
  • The Lapierre White Roads Classic SportiveThe Lapierre White Roads Classic SportiveGoring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, UK
  • Up to 112 km (70 miles)
  • From 25.00 GBP
  • Unknown Riders