2026 Isle of Wight Sportive 19/7/2026
Event Date: 19/7/2026 Tour Dates: 19/7/2026We are open for bookings , Get the Early Bird Price NOW !
Welcome to our latest Sportive for 2026 which will be on the Isle of Wight. For us at European Cycle Events it’s a new adventure , so please come and join us. Our Sportives are normally based in and around Surrey but this time we are “pushing the boat out”. Our route will start and finish at Freshwater , circumnavigating IOW clockwise with a tweek so that riders avoid the £1 boat crossing at Cowes as this service is unpredictable and would disrupt the event. Rider will be clocking up 122 km with 2109m elevation. The Isle of Wight is a stunning picturesque location fitting for a cyclist. The event will have a mechanic at the start and rolling throughout the course , sag wagon , back up medical , mid fee station hot food available at the finish and live gps tracking, the complete Sportive.
With our Gps tracking facility your family and friends can track you from start to finish from the comfort of their home and if they are local they can judge it just right to turn up and cheer you over the finish line , we will issue a internet link for them to track the event.
Located just off of the south coast of England, our island is only 2 hours door-to-door from London via ferry or hovercraft, making it the perfect year-round destination to explore with family and friends. If you want to discover things to do, accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets, walking and cycling routes, food and drink, plus how to travel around our island, then look no further.
England in miniature, there’s always plenty to do here whatever the season thanks to our vibrant events calendar – you can find out what’s on right now. Our blog provides further inspiration on how to make the most of your trip. Our island, is your island. We can’t wait to welcome you.
Moda is our official sponsor for the Isle of Wright Sportive, with Moda’s passion for high-quality cycling, this partnership steps up our event nicely.
Since 2009, Moda has been dedicated to crafting high-quality bicycles, designed, tested, and assembled in the UK. Their passionate team, with decades of cycling experience, works tirelessly to create bikes that deliver an unbeatable riding experience. Tested on the challenging roads of Lancashire and refined with input from top athletes, Moda bikes are built to perform. Assembled by expert mechanics in the UK, every Moda bike is ready to offer you the best ride from day one.
Support and Mechanical back thanks to PEDAL ACTIVE
Event Photographs thanks to Clarke Creative
Recycle and Bicycle IOW Destination Shop
If you can not ride there is NO ROLLOVER OPTION or transfer to another event . A refund will only be available if you cancel within 28 days of your booking date , if you cancel after the 28 days from booking then no refund will be available , plus if you book within 28 days of the event date and cancel then NO refund will be available.
Ferry Crossings
Portsmouth > Ryde – 22 mins
Portsmouth > Fishbourne – 45 mins
Lymington > Yarmouth – 40 Mins
What’s the distance and Gps file
The route will be loaded onto Strava , if you don’t have a Strava account , no worries we will email out the gpx file
How long is the Isle of Wight Sportive ? – circa 122km / 76 miles
Strava link – http://strava.com/routes/3409131308534824358
- Elevation – 2118 meters
- Distance – 122km / 76 miles
Suggested places to stay on the Isle of Wight
Glencaple Tower
Glencaple Tower is a luxury 6-bedroom, 5 bathroom coastal retreat in Totland Bay, perfect for Sportive riders travelling as a group. Sleeping up to 12 guests across six beautifully designed bedrooms and five high-spec bathrooms, it combines space, style and serious post-ride comfort!
After the race, unwind in the hot tub and sauna, enjoy sunset sea views, or relax in one of the generous living spaces with log burner and bar. High-end interiors, a fully equipped handcrafted kitchen, media room and unique turret rooms make this a truly memorable base for the weekend.
Practical touches include EV car charging, parking, and easy access to West Wight’s coastal roads. Located just a short walk from Totland Bay and close to Colwell Bay and Yarmouth, Glencaple Tower offers the perfect blend of luxury, recovery and location for Isle of Wight Sportive riders.
The Clifton
Guest House – Shanklin
The Clifton’s stunning cliff top location boasts fabulous views from its conservatory lounge and garden which opens onto the coastal walk. Shanklin Old Village, Shanklin Chine and the beach are a 5-minute walk.
Sentry Mead
We invite you to unwind and enjoy the charm of your own country home by the sea. Nestled in the heart of Totland Bay on the beautiful Isle of Wight, our award-winning boutique bed and breakfast offers elegant comfort, exceptional hospitality, and the perfect base to explore the natural beauty and rich history of West Wight.
The Caledon Guest House
Cowes
Book directly online for the best prices and availability.
We offer the perfect mix of a friendly, welcoming bed and breakfast with the spacious, non intrusive feel of a small hotel.
The Wellington Hotel
In Ventnor beautifully blends the elegance of Victorian architecture with modern comforts. Preserving many of its original features, it offers guests an authentic taste of an English seaside retreat, enhanced by the area’s unique microclimate.
Tollgate Cottages Bed & Breakfast – Freshwater
Bed & Breakfast
Freshwater
UNIQUE BED AND BREAKFAST WITH PRIVATE SUITE SLEEPING 2-4 PEOPLE – Children 16 years and under Half Price
Grange Bank House
Shanklin
Grange Bank House Bed and Breakfast is in the heart of the Old village of Shanklin, one of the most beautiful villages on the Isle of Wight.
The Bay Boutique Bed & Breakfast
Our refurbished Victorian property, in the heart of Freshwater Bay, is located just a few minutes walk from the beach and borders footpaths and cycle routes in an Isle of Wight National Landscape (formerly known as Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). St Agnes, the Island’s only thatched church, Dimbola Lodge photography museum and Tennyson Downs are located at the end of the road. As a small family-run property with only three guest rooms (family, double, twin/double); holidays at The Bay retain an intimate feel within a hotel quality setting.
Ruskin Lodge Freshwater Bay Bed & Breakfast
Guest House situated in Freshwater Bay, Isle of Wight with prices from £100 per room per night, breakfast included. Reductions for children. Please email or phone for availability and prices.In the beautiful West Wight, Ruskin Lodge is often described by guests as having a warm, relaxed and friendly feel. Visitors are provided with keys to allow free access throughout the day.All rooms are large, light and airy and great care has been taken to retain the period feel of this late Victorian home, with features such as fireplaces retained where possible. Relax in the cosy conservatory or on the balcony, with its unobstructed panoramic views across the 1970 Isle of Wight Pop Festival site, the Downs and the western end of the Island.
Weston Manor B&B and Self catering
Weston Manor Bed and Breakfast forms part of this grade two-star English Heritage listed Manor, run by Mike and Vicki Sparey. Ideally placed to enjoy the best of West Wight. We are situated in a rural setting away from the road surrounded by woodland and fields, Weston manor boasts its own private Pugin style Chapel. Built in 1871 by William George Ward a Catholic convert, (an extract from English Heritage listing regarding Weston Manor) “This Manor is of more than special interest for its quality, completeness and rarity of survival”. We are offering a modern B&B experience in an historic building.
Romany Cottage
Book your coastal escape here – Romany Cottage is a delightful cottage, having previously been awarded the national Tourist Board (VisitEngland) 4 star Gold Award. Situated in a quiet residential area in West Wight, near Freshwater and a short walking distance to Colwell and Totland Bays – part of the Round the Island Footpath. Close to Tennyson Down and Freshwater Bay where amazing views can be seen from its top across the Solent. Freshwater with its shops is 10 mins walk away.
Tollgate Cottages Bed & Breakfast
Tollgate Cottages is unique in that it consists of one suite of two bedrooms, a sitting room and a bathroom which are all yours, whether you are a couple or there are up to four of you. There is no pressure to make conversation with strangers over breakfast, and you don’t need to worry if you have noisy children. It is situated in a beautiful rural part of Freshwater, directly opposite the 1970 Pop Festival site where 600,000 people came to see the likes of Jimi Hendrix and the Doors. The Cottage is 3 miles from the town of Yarmouth and the car ferry port with boats sailing between Lymington and Yarmouth run by Wightlink.
Isle of Wight – On the day information / instructions
Start and Finish is at the HQ – The Memorial Hall , Avenue Road , Freshwater , PO40 9UU
Date 19/7/2026
Doors Open from 07:30
Event starts from 08:30
On the line entries – if available after 09:00
Feed Station closes at
Ride closes at 17:30
GPS Trackers MUST be collected by 09:00 am
Feed Station is at – tbc
You will not be issued with a ride number but with a gps tracker which will have your number on it.
Prior to the start a web link will be issued whereby family and friends can track you and should you require a mechanic or the sag wagon you can see where they are via your smart phone.
There is a rolling mechanic and a mechanic at the start.
There will be a sag wagon
There will be rolling medics
Riders who can not complete the course or have a mechanical please see the mechanic numbers below, – BUT PLEASE STAY ON THE COURSE .
Result sheet will be emailed out to you as soon as possible, hopefully first thing the following morning.
Results will be in numerous age categories as well as sex.
Advice – Ensure your bike is road worthy – carry at least 3 tubes
Wear a helmet for your own protection no helmet no ride
This is NOT a race, please respect other road users and residents and go by the Highway Code
Parking – there are local public car parks
If the event has to be cancelled it will be rescheduled for another date and roll riders over.
Have a good ride and enjoy the day.
Hot food will be at the finish on your return.
HQ Emergency Number tbc
Mechanic Number tbc
Sag wagon tbc
Medical Service tbc
What do we include in your Sportive
- Hot, post-ride pasta meal – with Veggie option) – hot drinks, cake and goodies
- Fast, easy sign on
- Well signed route
- Great mid-route feed station
- Gps tracking and timing
- Sag wagon
- Rolling Medical Service
- Pre-event and rolling mechanic service
- Times emailed to riders
- 300 rider limit – entry on the day is subject to availability – don’t chance it !
What about the ‘Small Print’ and payment?
Each Sportive is designed for riders to be self-sufficient on a pre-planned route which is clearly marked by arrows on the tarmac.
Our Sportives are NOT races. We do provide gps electronic timing for our Sportives, but these are purely for an individual rider to measure their own performance.
In the event that we have to cancel this Sportive, we will give as much notice as possible and roll you over to the new date only.
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Departure19/7/2026
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Departure Time19/7/2026
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Included
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Not Included
