Tour of Cambridgeshire

The Tour of Cambridgeshire is one of only a handful of UCI-recognized gran fondos in the United Kingdom, and one of the rare closed-road sportives in the country. The 128 km Gran Fondo route rolls through the flat, open countryside of Cambridgeshire on completely traffic-free roads, creating an authentic racing experience for amateur riders. With only 500 m of total elevation, this is the anti-mountain sportive — but don't mistake flat for easy. The exposed Fenland roads are notorious for crosswinds that can shatter a group and turn the ride into a battle of attrition. Drafting skills, group riding ability and raw power on the flat are what separate fast finishers from the rest. The competitive atmosphere and closed roads encourage racing behavior throughout. Training should focus on sustained power output and aerodynamic efficiency. Include long threshold and sweet spot intervals on flat terrain, group ride practice to hone drafting skills, and specific crosswind training if possible. Time trial efforts of 30-60 minutes at race pace will build the specific fitness needed. This is an event where watts per kilogram matters less than raw watts and the ability to sustain them.