Sportives and gran fondos

Mass participation road cycling events known as cyclosportives and gran fondos are enjoying a global boom. They appeal to the newcomer and experienced cyclist alike, as they offer both a challenge and a change of scenery. They're generally not as hard as road races as they can be ridden at any pace without fear of falling behind the pack. That said, there's a strong tradition of gran fondos in Europe that are organised and ridden as races, albeit with huge field.

• Best sportives and gran fondos

This section of BikeRadar is devoted to cyclosportives and gran fondos. It will include event news, reviews of sportive bikes and equipment, training and nutrition guides, and 'how to' features. Bookmark it as your online resource for all things related to cyclosportives.