The Puncheur Cyclosportive

2017 will be the 9th PUNCHEUR. It sells out every year. It’s a carefully planned route, with a unique selling point: a tough, summit finish.

The challenge of the PUNCHEUR Sportive is not a long list of nasty climbs, neither is it mega-endurance. The challenge is to keep up a good tempo along rolling roads over 65 miles, and to keep your rhythm up the short climbs and drags.

Don’t take it lightly, however! Your endurance level will be tested, and you will get a good idea of your early-season fitness, and where your strengths and weaknesses are.

There are long, flat stretches; draggy climbs; fast descents; and short, sharp, steeper hills to get out the saddle and punch your way over. Can you pace it so you don’t blow up early, AND, also make sure you have something in your legs to get you up Ditchling Beacon at the end?