The Lapierre 'White Roads Classic' is a 160km sportive inspired by what is possibly the most beautiful professional bike race in the world: the Italian Classic Strade Bianche, held annually in the hills of Tuscany in early Spring, and includes several stretches of old white gravel roads or strade bianche. 

The White Roads Classic starts and finishes in Goring-on-Thames and takes in nine sectors of white gravel and chalk roads on and around the Ridgeway National Trail in Oxfordshire. The Ridegway is the oldest road in Britain, dating back some 8000 years. Its spectacular chalk downland stretches from Avebury Stone Circle up through the Chilterns into Norfolk, and is the location of many Neolithic, Iron Age, and Bronze Age sites including forts, burial mounds and white chalk horses.

The event will have an Italian theme, with a variety of Italian foods, espresso and a glass of prosecco for every finisher.

For training tips and advice visit: www.britishcycling.org.uk/sportivetips

Info for Riders

The Lapierre 'White Roads Classic' is a 100-mile (160km) sportive inspired by what is possibly the most beautiful professional bike race in the world: the Italian Classic Strade Bianche, which is held annually in the hills of Tuscany in early Spring, and whose most distinctive feature is the inclusion of several stretches of old white gravel roads or 'strade bianche'. The Lapierre White Roads Classic similarly features sectors of white gravel and chalk roads (seventeen in total, ranging from 1500m to 5200m in length) on and around the Ridgeway National Trail in Oxfordshire. The Ridgeway is the oldest road in Britain, dating back at least 5000 years. It sits atop the spectacular chalk downland of the North Wessex Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, whose landscape mimics to some extent the hills of Tuscany. The event will have an Italian theme, with a variety of Italian foods, espresso, and a glass of prosecco for every finisher. Feed stations, a broom wagon and medical back-up will be provided.