Event: 21 April 2013
Location: Tiverton High School, Tiverton, Devon

One of the most attractive features of this year’s Exmoor Beauty sportive is its greater accessibility for those, from further afield, who have yet to experience the delights of a ride through Somerset’s stunning national park. By moving ‘The Beauty’s start to Tiverton the organisers have, for the vast majority of participants, dramatically cut the previous journey time to the event.

“Tiverton is only an hour’s drive south of the M4 / M5 interchange, which means those approaching from West London need only add about another hour and a half to reach the H.Q., while entrants from Birmingham are looking at just over a couple of hours, tops and Cardiff is much less. Even Southampton, via the A303, is only just over 100 miles away, while Plymouth is almost literally just down the road, so ‘The Beauty’s’ new location is looking like a great hub for a sportive.” said chief organiser Marcus Di Vincenzo.“And with a start time window extended to 9:30 a.m. that means most participants won’t need overnight accommodation on the eve of the ride.” he added.

Last year’s inaugural event attracted nearly 800 entrants and this year’s geographical move, to the south of the county, has prompted Di Vincenzo to limit entries for this spring’s offering. “If that many people were prepared to make the trek to Minehead last time, I’m guessing hundreds more will be attracted to a venue which is much easier to reach. Therefore, with a couple of hundred or so early birds already signed up and mindful that Tiverton High School is new to hosting a mass participation event, I’ve decided to initially cap numbers at 1500 for our first visit there.” he said.

At approximately 100 km (62 miles), ‘The Beauty’ is an excellent stepping stone for longer summer sportives and its gentle opening and closing sections, along the picturesque Exe Valley, make it a very appealing early season challenge. For further details and to enter the 21 April event visit www.exmoorbeauty.org.