Sunday 5^thApril 2020 sees the second edition of the Manx|Gravel Sportive.

Brought to you by the Manx 100 team, you know it will be challenging, fun, exhilarating and a full on day  in the saddle. With five routes from 50km to 250km to choose from there is a route for all.

Each one is a tough challenge and all involve some instance of “gravel” and many roads "less travelled".

The Isle of Man is a fantastically beautiful place to ride a bike, on or off road and this route will take you to places few visit on a road bike even though the level of interest in cycling on the Island has never been higher.

The event starts and finishes at the iconic TT Grandstand in the heart of Douglas.

Info for Riders

All the routes (50k, 100k, 100 mile 200k and 250k options) take you away from the centre into the Baldwin Valleys before firing you south via your first gravel sections on a track and through Archallagan Plantation, plus some lesser known roads and tracks.  

The 50k route splits in St Marks and takes you back home along the Marine Drive with its amazing views and the promenade before you return back to the grandstand.

After “roads” sections we head to a set of three climbs which will feel never ending, especially as the first climb “ends” in a gravel section.  As you finally get to crest Eairy Cushlin and then head down into Glen Maye, make sure you haven’t burnt all your matches.

Old Post office hill has stretches of near 20% and in classic Manx fashion, does not deviate from a “straight up” the hill approach, albeit it does have some false summits to keep you guessing.  

After a tasty downhill the next section is a “rolling” gravel section through the centre of stoney mountain which can catch those out who carry a touch too much speed.  The 100k’s split off here heading back to Douglas again via the Marine Drive and Promenade.

Through St Johns its not long before you are back out into the sticks.

Some fabulous rough roads take you to Brandywell road and another climb. Once you’ve summited this one, its down the infamous Druidale road into Ballaugh.  The 100 milers deviate here and head to Sulby before re-joining the route and tackling Tholt y Will.

A run of the Northern plains to Ramsey and then into Maughold and some minor roads with more rough tarmac and some hills.

Back down the TT, you take in the Kella and Curraghs back roads before popping out onto an old railway line and then heading back up Tholt y Will.

Over the top and onto the infamous TT course where you will drop to the Creg ny Baa pub.  A steep descent brings you one final gravel track on the “LA white” and then it’s a straight run back to where you started.