Black Rat Cyclosportive 2015

The Black Rat Challenge for 2015 will be held on Sunday 17th May. Starting at Clifton Rugby Club.

We are delighted to announce details of the Black Rat Challenge for 2015, which will start from Clifton Rugby Club at Cribbs Causeway, just half a mile from Junction 17 of the M5.

In order to accommodate three fabulous routes, which this year we are calling the Granfondo, Mediofondo and Piccolofondo routes, we have moved to the outstanding facilities offered by Clifton Rugby Club. Excellent access from Bristol and the rest of the country, plenty of on site parking, great changing facilities, an excellent clubhouse and easy, safe access from the site to the three routes.

The routes themselves will be ridden on quiet roads which will take you through the country lanes of Severn Vale to the Severn Bridge, across the bridge to Wales and up to Tintern. The routes split just after Tintern, with Granfondo riders tackling some outstanding riding in the Forest of Dean and Mediofondo and Piccolofondo riders climbing to Trelleck. Granfondo riders will rejoin the Mediofondo and Piccolofondo riders when they reach Trelleck and all riders will head to Llanishen. 

At Llanishen, Granfondo and Mediofondo riders will turn and ride towards Abergavenny on some outstanding roads through beautiful countryside. The route back towards the Severn Bridge takes in the beautiful Usk Valley before crossing the Severn Bridge back to Aust and then through the lanes to Hallen and back to Clifton Rugby Club for your free Black rat Cider and pasty!

Piccolofondo riders will continue towards Devauden after splitting from the other riders and take the fantastic descent that everyone raved about in the 2014 ride to Chepstow Racecourse. Here they will rejoin the other two routes to head back across the Severn Bridge and through the quiet lanes of Severn Vale to the finish for their free Black Rat Cider and hot pasty.

We have been blown away by the quality of the routes and we are certain that everyone taking part will love them as much as us!