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KIlo To Go - What The Organisers Say

by Henry Peacock

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Simon Thomson and Geoff Saxon, the men behind Kilo To Go talk about their experiences of setting up the Cheshire Cat sportive in 2007 one of the iconic early season events.

mowcop
The Infamous Mow Cop Climb On The Wiggle Cheshire Cat

The event had its beginnings at Knutsford leisure centre, which it soon outgrew with the current HQ at Crewe Alexandra Football Club, according to Thomson the only thing that hasn't changed in seven editions is the popularity of the event. "There's still that unknown, as you make the event live on the website" says Thomson, days after the 3600th and final entry was received. "However the Wiggle Cheshire Cat has always been popular. I think most organisers start out with a plan of creating big sportives - that was us in 2007. We had 14 events across the country attracting large numbers of riders but the Cheshire Cat always shone out."
Hosted on the first day of British Summer Time and having weather worthy of that status in 2012, the route has changed over the years but one key challenge has remained. The Mow Cop Killer Mile climb has, at the very top, a short but steep 25% section of road that has become synonymous with the event and most recently placed at 16 miles rather than 60 into the loop.

"This is an incredible climb. Riders can see the ruins at the top of Mow Cop from just 5 miles in to the ride. It beckons you, but also focuses the mind from a long way off! If you're not a climber, then there is definitely a trick to this climb. One of those tricks is never to look up as all you can see, a long way off up the climb, is a wall of what seems to be vertical tarmac. See that and your legs might just stop. Riders go out weeks in advance of the event to recce the climb then Facebook & Twitter to tell us."

cheshire

'The Cat' just keeps getting more popular each year. Simon, Commercial Director at Kilo To Go says, "In a very competitive market, last year we saw a 45% increase in rider numbers compared to the previous year. Along with an increase in riders choosing to ride multiple events, proves that Kilo To Go provide the sportive rider with great routes, fantastic backup support and queue busting technologies that give the riders a cracking day out in the saddle."

The popularity of the sell-out event and change in the profile of the sportive rider prompts the biggest question yet; what will the Cheshire Cat look like in seven years from now? "I can safely say we don't look seven years ahead," Thomson laughs. "We've created events in different parts of the country from Yorkshire to Essex and Lancashire to Cornwall, providing unique riding profiles and challenges. Each event is set up so that it is possible to adapt the routes and venues over the years as the events become more popular. The people that ride our events have changed since 2007 when we first started. Today, the average age of the sportive rider is 42, and they don't necessarily belong to a cycling club. Our events are true sportives in every sense of the word that cater for a wide range of cycling skills. Our sportives have multiple routes so that riders can still enjoy a tough day out in the saddle whilst not having to chew off 100 or even 75 miles."

kilo to go

For more information and entry to all events: http://www.kilotogo.com/

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