Road bike events: The most important road bike events in the world for amateur cyclists

Cycling race in Africa

Cape Town Cycle Tour - South Africa

The biggest cycling race in the world takes place in South Africa. Before the coronavirus pandemic, up to 40,000 riders took part in the event - the tradition of the race goes back a long way. The Argus Tour premiered on 28 October 1978 with 500 participants and was intended to promote the bicycle as a means of transport. For years, the organisers faced a lot of headwinds and it was difficult to obtain a route permit. Today, the event is an important tourism factor. The approximately 108-kilometre route offers a loop around Table Mountain across the Cape Peninsula with many views of the Atlantic Ocean. Strong winds are not unusual.
https://www.capetowncycletour.com

Hobby bike race in America

Granfondo New York - USA

If you fancy a really big stage for your bike race, New York is the perfect place to combine sport and sightseeing: the Granfondo New York offers a 162-kilometre race for the tenth time, which runs from the city centre parallel to the Hudson River into the green Harriman State Park. Even the start promises to give you goosebumps: around 5,000 participants gather on the George Washington Bridge for the fast trip into the countryside. If you have big ambitions, you can qualify for the GFNY World Championship in one of the worldwide qualifying races and start in one of the front starting blocks.
https://gfny.com

El Tour de Tucson - USA

Since 1983, the Tour de Tucson has offered a performance comparison for amateur cyclists - around 6000 participants take part in the three routes on offer. The longest is 164 kilometres. The race starts and finishes in the city of Tucson, Arizona and leads out of the city on wide roads. An important event on the North American cycling scene.
https://eltourdetucson.org

GFNY Cozumel - Mexico

The third-largest island in Mexico is home to a cycle race that largely runs along the coast. Photos with sand and turquoise sea in the background are otherwise rare at a cycling race. What you can't see in the photos is that there is often a strong wind blowing against the participants - it's not without reason that there is a classification for the "King of the Wind". So if you have a little more on your ribs, you have a clear advantage in this race. The long distance (160 kilometres) involves cycling twice around the island and the short distance (80 kilometres) once.
https://cozumel.gfny.com

Cycling races: Everyman Events Europe

RideLondon - England

The RideLondon cycling festival has been taking place in London since 2013. In the wake of the Summer Olympics, RideLondon was created as a major event that stands out across Europe due to its size and promotes cycling. The two-day event offers activities for families and a cycle marathon in the footsteps of the Olympic road race. The total number of participants is therefore impressive: 50,000 took part in RideLondon FreeCycle, the ride through the city centre, and 16,000 in the RideLondon-Surrey 100 cycling marathon at its premiere in 2013. The coronavirus pandemic led to cancellations in 2020 and 2021. In 2023, routes over 100, 60 and 30 miles - equivalent to 161, 97 and 48 kilometres - will be offered under the name RideLondon-Essex.
https://www.ridelondon.co.uk

Bemer Cyclassics Hamburg - Germany

The Hamburg Cyclassics is the most important and largest German amateur cycling race. The cycling race has been attracting cyclists of all abilities to Hamburg since 1996. The route has been changed several times in recent years and the organiser has also changed. However, the finish on Mönckebergstraße has always been an integral part of the race. Up to 20,000 starting places were sold at the peak of the race - after a two-year coronavirus break, there were still 10,000 finishers in 2022.
https://www.cyclassics-hamburg.de

Vätternrundan - Sweden

The Vätternrundan has been the biggest event in amateur cycling for years. In Germany, the 315-kilometre cycling marathon around Lake Vättern is particularly popular - but there are other routes on offer as part of the Cycling Week (Cykelveckan). The women's ride Tjejvättarn and the short version Halvvättern also attract thousands of participants to the small town of Motala. The three major events attract up to 35,000 participants at their peak - and there are also smaller side events. The long route has always been fully booked for years. Traditionally, there is a privately organised bus trip from northern Germany to the Vätternrundan (contact Axel Jackisch). The cycling marathon is very well organised and fast teams have the option of registering in the sub-9 starting group. Trained teams cycle around the lake in seven to nine hours. The lights are checked before the start and there are nine refreshment points along the route.
https://vatternrundan.se

Tour of Flanders as a cycling marathon - Belgium

Up to 16,000 cycling enthusiasts follow in the footsteps of the pros on the route in Flanders. The variety of routes on offer is certainly a recipe for success: there is a choice of distances of 75, 144, 179 or 235 kilometres. This is not a cycling race, but a cycling marathon under the title "We Ride Flanders" - but personal time is measured on the decisive climbs. Depending on the distance, the race starts in predetermined time slots. It is worth registering early for reduced starting prices.
https://werideflanders.com/en/

Maratona dles Dolomites - Italy

Every racing cyclist has seen photos of the Dolomites Marathon - because the landscape is photogenic and the winding roads are spectacular. It's no wonder that the race has become a firm fixture in the European amateur sporting calendar. 166 participants lined up at the start of the first Maratona on 12 July 1987, helping to write a success story. The Maratona has built up a good reputation over the years: Perfect organisation, complete route closures and the impressive Dolomite backdrop make the event one of the most beautiful in the world. The Dolomites Marathon also felt a decline due to the Corona years: in 2022 there were 7,000 participants at the start - three years earlier there were 9,000.
https://www.maratona.it

L'Etape du Tour - France

The Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), the organiser of the Tour de France, has been organising a very successful cycling race for amateur cyclists in the footsteps of the Tour de France since 1993. The idea: to ride a complete stage of the Tour de France a few days before the professionals. The race takes place on a new route every year. It is always a mountain route and the start and finish locations are different. The organiser offers an optional bus transfer. With 16,000 starting places sold, it is the largest European cycling race on a mountain route. Good for the A.S.O.: because the starting places are sold out immediately, significantly more people sign up than actually take part. In 2019, almost a third of those registered did not even make it to the start line.
https://www.letapedutourdefrance.com

Report from L'Etape du Tour 2022

Gran Fondo Quebrantahuesos - Spain

Around 8,000 participants gather at the traditional Spanish event Quebrantahuesos. Two routes are on offer: the Quebrantahuesos Gran Fondo (200 kilometres) and the Treparriscos Medio Fondo (85 kilometres). The first 30 kilometres of the Gran Fondo are ridden in large fields before the first climb. The long route leads through the Spanish and French Pyrenees with the climbs Somport (1604 metres), Col du Marie Blanque (1035 metres) and Col du Portalet (1795 metres). The demand for starting places is greater than the supply, so places will be allocated by lottery. A racing licence or medical certificate is required to take part. The 31st edition will take place in 2023.
https://www.quebrantahuesos.com

Everyman race dates 2023: These are the most important events

Cycling races: Top dates in Asia

Taiwan KOM Challenge

Taiwan is the land of the racing bike industry and home to the toughest mountain race in the world. From the start by the sea, the Taiwan KOM Challenge leads up the 3275 metre-high Wuling Pass in a single ascent. As if the metres in altitude were not enough, there are also ramps with a gradient of over 20 percent on the last few kilometres. The scenery is also a dream! A colourful mix of ex-professionals and amateurs line up at the start. In 2022, a major landslide caused the route to be shortened. Taiwan's most famous cycling race attracts participants from all over the world - but the starting field is manageable and not everyone makes it to the top of the pass.
www.taiwankom.org

Seorak Gran Fondo Republic of Korea

South Korea has an active road cycling community and the Seorak Gran Fondo is the highlight of the year. The starting field is huge by Korean standards and manageable by global standards: 3336 took to the course in 2022. There is a Gran Fondo over 208 kilometres and a Medio Fondo over 105 kilometres. Both routes also have a large portion of altitude metres. You need to bring a bit of an adventurous spirit to the start in Korea - the characters and language can be a bit of a puzzle. In return, there is an impressive landscape and a sporty route with long climbs and descents.
http://www.granfondo.kr

Bike race: Everyman event in Australia

Amy's Gran Fondo

Australia's most famous Gran Fondo takes place on the "Great Ocean Road" - the biggest tourist attraction in Victoria. The road is completely closed on race day and therefore offers uninterrupted scenery and racing enjoyment. A maximum of 10,000 starters are permitted on the three different distances - those who want a stress-free experience can start in the "Recreational" category and then have more time until the finish. In addition to the family route, there are also distances of 130 and 45 kilometres.
www.amysgranfondo.org.au

Cycling race: Everyman event in New Zealand

Lake Taupo Challenge

With around 5000 participants, the Lake Taupo Challenge is not large by global standards - but by New Zealand standards, it is the country's top event. The main race is 99 Bikes Round the Lake and leads exactly once around Lake Taupo in 160 kilometres. The confusing addition 99 Bikes only refers to the title sponsor. The almost 1700 metres of elevation gain show that the route is not always flat along the shore of the lake. And if the 160 kilometres are not enough for you, you can ride around the lake twice in the "Enduro" race to reach 320 kilometres.
https://www.cyclechallenge.com