Tackling a sportive provides an essential cycling high, giving you the thrill of riding in a bunch, exploring new routes and meeting new people.
The UK has a wide range of events held across the Isles, covering all types of landscape and terrain.
While some are harder than others, all inspire a challenge and you are often supported by fellow riders.
Having a sportive lined up in your calendar can help drag you out on cold winter days to keep your fitness up.
We’ve put together our pick of the best events for 2026.
Bealach Mor
It’ll be a mighty old trip up to north-west Scotland for many to reach this event, yet the hours of travel will be well worth it for the vistas of the beautiful lochs and rugged mountains of the western Highlands.
The jewel in this sportive’s crown is as painful as it is picturesque, though, and comes in the form of Britain’s biggest road climb – the Bealach na Bà pass.
This savagely steep and serpentine ascent rises 626m in only 10km from sea level. It’s probably the closest thing we have to an Alpine climb here in the UK – and the ascending continues on the rest of the route, with a total of 2,100m elevation gain.
- Date: 16 May 2026
ScotDURO
GBDURO made a name for itself during 2020 when, in a season of cancellations and postponements, its running provided spellbinding images and inspiring stories as hardy riders tackled the 2,000km Land’s End to John o’ Groats on road and gravel.
GBDURO spawned many offspring, including ScotDURO, a two-day, 330km sojourn with 5,500m of ascent through the heart of Scotland.
The aim is to reconnect with nature and help the organisers rewild more than 100 hectares of land in the UK.
- Date: 5 September 2026
IoW Randonnee
The Isle of Wight Randonnee is not a sportive as such, but a relaxed ride around the stunning island.
One of the wonderful things about the route is it’s permanently signposted, so it’s (near) impossible to get lost.
The roads are incredibly smooth, too, on a parcours that starts at East Cowes.
In a clockwise direction, you then head to the eastern village of Bembridge and down to Ventnor in the south, before heading north-west to Freshwater and back to East Cowes. A 55km option is also available.
- Date: 6 May 2026
Dartmoor Classic
Since 2007, the Dartmoor Classic has become an essential fixture for UK riders, attracting some 4,000 entrants to the south west.
Beginning at Newton Abbot racecourse, the three open-road routes on offer all venture away from the coast and into the rugged and windswept hills of Dartmoor National Park.
With 3,400m of climbing on the longest route, it’s certainly no picnic.
- Date: 21 June 2026
Salisbury Plain Summer Epic
This suitably titled Summer Epic traverses the smooth, wide gravel tracks of Salisbury Plain, taking in MOD land and views of Stonehenge on fully marked routes.
Nearly 90 per cent of the course is off-road, and the abundant cake at the aid stations is, well, the icing on the cake for us.
- Date: 18 July 2026
Cambrian Coast Sportive
Rugged peaks, coastline views, lakes and forests are all present and correct, as is the Bwlch y Groes (aka Hellfire Pass) on the longer route options. It's one of the highest tarmac roads in Wales and an ascent that features in Simon Warren’s essential 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs guidebook.
- Date: TBC
Fred Whitton Challenge
The Fred Whitton is rightly regarded as one of the toughest UK sportives.
As such, it isn’t one for newcomers to cycling and getting around all 183km within the six-hour mark is a serious achievement.
Beginning in Grasmere, the course has over 3,900m of ascent and includes the iconic climbs of Kirkstone, Honister, Whinlatter, Hardknott and Wrynose passes.
- Date: 10 May 2026
Cheshire Cat Sportive
This long-running and affordable sportive commences in Crewe, before winding its way around the Cheshire countryside.
There are three ride lengths, with the shorter 85km option skipping the beastly, mile-long Mow Cop climb that the medium 126km and long 168km entrants have to face.
A nearly-home high for 168km riders is cycling through lovely Delamere Forest, the largest woodland in Cheshire, and a section that’ll surely bring out those Cheshire Cat grins.
- Date: 29 Mar 2026
Tour O The Borders
This established, closed-road sportive sets off from the pretty Borders town of Peebles and takes in lochs, woodlands and reservoirs on both its route options.
It’s consistently hilly, with a total elevation gain of 1,430m on the 120km route, and peaks with the beastly Talla Climb at the 45km stage.
A key sell for us is the local food treats available at the feed stations, including Forsyth macaroni pies.
- Date: 5 September 2026
Etape Caledonia
You can pick from 64, 88 or 137km routes, the latter featuring a round trip from gorgeous Pitlochry, boasting rolling Perthshire countryside along the banks of the Rannoch and Tummel lochs, and almost 1,200m of climbing (although there’s only one major climb to speak of).
The closed roads are a major sell and will get the blood pumping, so expect a fast ride punctuated by undulating stretches. Being Scotland, ensure you pack for any weather eventuality.
- Date: 10 May 2026
