Biggest Ever Sunday Sportive Season Ends on a High

The biggest ever Sunday Sportive season concluded with another 500 riders taking on the challenging North Downs course from Dunsfold Aerodrome on Sunday.

The season has seen over 5,000 riders take to the roads over the summer. The year started in April with the Princes Risborough sportive selling out six weeks ahead of the event, closely followed by another sell out at Duncton two weeks later. The flagship of the season, the Southern Sportive, attracted 1500 riders and high praise for it's stunning course and organisation. "Demand and feedback have been incredible, we've been closing the books on events all year, with riders coming back month after month", says organiser Phil Harrison. "For 2010 we're looking at how we can accept more riders across the board and meet that growth in demand, without affecting the quality of the events".

Quality is the watchword for organisers Trail Break, who now have 21 cyclosportives under their belts from the past four years, and bring 16 years of prior mountain bike event experience to the table. Their expertise and attention to detail have struck a chord with the riders:

"I did the Southern Sportive (and two of the Sunday events). The venue, organisation, routes, facilities at the end were all excellent; great days out. Thanks to all the team for their efforts." - Neil M

"A superb event. It is the second Southern Sportive I have done and I plan to do many more of the events in the future. They are well executed, planned on lovely routes and with a great attitude." - Rick B

"I took part this year for the very first time in the Southern Sportive. Such a great event! Can't wait to trying out the mid route next year, after completing the short route this year." - Richard W

The 2010 season is already being planned, with new venues and new formats to be introduced, and the organisation as a whole being taken to a new level. A major investment in an in house RFID timing system in 2009 will continue; greater integration with bespoke software and the Southern Sportive website will offer the best ride results service available. And the season will start with a pair of new format pre season events in March, designed to give the best kick start to your year. Details are being kept under wraps for now, but all will be revealed on southernsportive.com over the winter with events going on sale in the New Year.

For more information about any of these events, visit www.southernsportive.com or call 0118 976 2491.