Tour de France legend Mark Cavendish launches inaugural cycle sportive in North Wales and Chester

Twenty-five time stage winner of the Tour de France, Mark Cavendish has launched his own sportive that will hit the streets around Chester and North Wales on August 9.

The Rise Above Sportive is a mass-participation cycle event combining elements of road racing and long distance cycling, importantly, the event is not race and open to amateur cyclists.

Cavendish the former World and British Champion will be joining thousands of amateur cyclists on one of three challenging routes ranging between 75 and 185km, all routes will start and finish in the heart of Chester and all feature challenging hill climbs along the roads of north Wales.

Speaking about the event Cavendish said:

“I’m very excited to launch the inaugural Rise Above Sportive. We first discussed the idea 18 months ago and have been going through the planning process ever since. I’ve pushed everyone involved to deliver an event that will provide the participants with a real premium rider experience.

“Our plan is to eventually have a fully closed road event so it was key for me to have some closed road sections in the inaugural one. I’m super happy that Cheshire West and Chester Council have kindly agreed to close some cobbled streets in and out of the city centre.

“The parcours we’ve chosen for all three routes will be really special and testing for any level of rider. Longer term, I have a vision to grow the Rise Above Sportive to a two-day cycling festival in the years to come. I hope to see you there after the Tour de France.”

Both the 185km ‘Extremist’ and 120km ‘Purist’ routes feature the Horseshoe Pass – a 6km climb at an average 5% – with the longer route continuing to Llyn Brenig and Clocaenog Forest.

Cllr Stuart Parker, of Cheshire West and Chester Councils, added:

“We are delighted to be hosting the Mark Cavendish Rise Above Sportive in 2015.

“This continues our long standing involvement in cycling events and build on the legacy of the 2012 Olympics and Cheshire West and Chester Councils commitment to cycling. It is even more pleasing Mark Cavendish has chosen Chester to be the home of his event.”

Entries will soon be accepted via the official website: www.riseabovesportive.com

main image: YouTube/TestDriven