Route from Start to Rest Stop

Both distances start in the Great Park near the Palace and exit from the Ditchley Gate.  The routes travel through the undulating Cotswold Countryside including the villages of Stonesfield, Charlbury (11.2k), Spelsbury, Chalfont Green, Cornwell through beautiful lanes and tree lined avenues (27.1k) to Adelstrop.  At Broadwell (34.2k), the route passes the Village Green before climbing the 2.5kms of Broadwell Hill, then  arriving at Stow-on-the-Wold

Stow-on-the-Wold is a delightful Cotswold market town and the route travels along the exposed 700 feet high hill where seven major roads meet, including the Roman Fosse Way. The route turns right close to the famous Market Square and drops downhill to the rest stop at Lower Swell (38.3k).

At the Rest Stop riders will be provided with an assortment of hot and cold food and drink and there will be medical care and cycle repair facilities.

At the rest stop the route divides. The 100 mile (162km) Course travels an additional 59.3k loop to return to the rest stop a second time, before rejoining the joint course to the finish.

Long Course Loop (Rest Stop to Rest Stop)

From the rest stop there is a 2.2 km climb of Swell Hill and Chalk Hill, past the Cotswolds Farm Park and onto the highest point of the course.

The course undulates through Snowshill until  the long descent to Bury End where the route turns left across level ground to Wormington.  The route through the Vale of Evesham is relatively flat until it reaches Alston (72.1k), where there will be an additional rest stop with facilities.  From Gretton and Winchcombe it is undulating until the climbs including Belas Knap and Roel Gate are reached.   From Guiting Power there is a long 3 mile climb before dropping downhill to the Rest Stop at Lower Swell.  (97.6k)

The Lower Swell Rest Stop food and facilities are again available to riders after the long lap.

After the rest stop, the 100 mile (162km) and 60 mile (97.6km) routes combine to return to the finish.

Combined route from Rest Stop to the finish.

The route is again undulating and travels through the beautiful Lower Slaughter village and then through Bourton-on-the-Water (Short route 49.9k and long route 109.2k).

Bourton-on-the-Water straddles the river Windrush with its series of elegant low bridges beside neat tree-shaded greens and tidy stone banks. It is one of the most popular tourist spots in the region being serviced by the many shops, cafes, and attractions with many traditional Cotswolds buildings standing back from the river.

The route then continues through the undulating countryside to Great Rissington, Great Barrington, Taynton (Short route 63k, and long route 122.3k ), Asthall Leigh, Minster Lovell, Delly End (Short route 82.8k and long route 142.1k), East End, Long Hanborough (Short route 91.9k and long route 151.2k) and Combe before returning into Blenheim Park at Ditchley Gate to the finish. (Short Course 97.6k , 60.6 miles and long course 162k, 100.6 miles) 

Route Management

Route Management and Safety will be provided by Trafeco who are the country’s leaders in cycle event safety, being responsible for the routes of cycle events as diverse as The Tour de France in UK, and Tour of Britain, to the Etape Caledonian and Exmoor Beast as well as athletic events and most of the major Triathlons.

To warn motorists of the presence of the event the course will have advanced warning signs placed along the route two weeks before the event, and ‘SLOW’ and Cycle Event warning signs throughout its length.   

On the day, the event will be comprehensively signed, and have static marshals on all essential points.  The marshals will be supported by the Britis