The best cycling events in Europe and the UK to enter now
Europe has many brilliant cycling events for amateurs to enter. Add one of these to your calendar.
If you’re looking to add one of the best European cycling events to your calendar this year or next, you’ve come to the right place.
We’ve rounded up the finest, toughest and most popular cycling sportives in the UK and Europe. They’re mainly on tarmac but we’ve thrown in a couple of gravel events too.
If you’re also interested in multisport, don’t miss our guides to the best triathlons in the UK and the best triathlons in the world.
The best cycling events in the UK in 2026
1. Fred Whitton Challenge
Location: English Lake District
Date: 10 May 2026
Entry: https://fredwhittonchallenge.co.uk/event/
So well established it goes by its first name, the fearsome ‘Fred’ has been forcing cyclists into their lowest gear since 1999. The Fred Whitton Challenge packs in some of the Lake District’s, no the UK’s, hardest climbs (Hardknott and Wrynose Passes) into a 180km course.
It’s considered by many to be the country’s toughest sportive and attracts elite-level and recreational cyclists to the north of England every May.
Entry is not easy either. Demands for places requires you to enter a ballot the winter before.
2. Dragon Ride
Location: Margam Country Park, Port Talbot, South Wales
Date: 14 June 2026
Entry: https://www.dragonride.co.uk/
The organisers of the Dragon Ride claim their event is the UK’s toughest sportive. In terms of distance, they have a point. The Gran Fondo is 220km and the Dragon Devil is a frankly diabolical 297km with 4,443km.
But the gradients of Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons) are less severe than the Fred’s.
There are two shorter routes which rack up stacks of elevation and stunning scenery themselves.
3. Dirty Reiver
Location: Kielder Forest
Date: 25 April 2026
Entry: https://dirtyreiver.co.uk/
Dirty Reiver was one of the UK’s first mass-participation gravel events and continues to be one of the most popular. It usually sells out for its Spring slot in short order.
Almost exclusively off-road around Kielder Water and Kielder Forest on the English-Scottish border, Dirty Reiver is a big day out.
Route distances range from the 200km full route to 63km, all featuring plenty of elevation on mixed surfaces.
4. Ride London
Location: Central London
Date: Usually May
Entry: https://www.londonmarathonevents.co.uk/ridelondon
Cycling in London is usually associated with laps around Regent’s or Richmond Park or commuting. Ride London turns that image on its head by putting on a 100-mile closed-road route in May.
The event, which has included a UCI Women’s WorldTour race and 60 and 30 mile sportives, didn’t run run in 2025. But the organisers haven’t ruled out its return.
The fast, flat course heads out of central London into Essex before returning for a sprint finish, if you’ve got the legs, on the Mall.
5. Gralloch
Location: Dumfries and Galloway
Date: 15-17 May
Entry: https://www.grallochgravel.com
As the UK’s sole UCI gravel race, the Gralloch deserves inclusion as one of the best cycling events. But it’s not all about age-group qualifying for the UEC European Gravel Championships in August.
In addition to the 80% gravel, 111km UCI race route with 1,761m climbing, you can take part in a sportive on the same course the next day. Alternatively there’s a 53km route.
For the hard core, the organisers have added a 330km ultra covering 5,000 vertical metres, which sounds totally brutal.
The best cycling events in Europe in 2026
6. Mallorca 312
Location: Mallorca, Spain
Date: 25 April 2026
Entry: https://mallorca312.com/en/
Mallorca is a warm-weather road cycling Mecca and the 312 takes you on a full lap of the island.
The marque 312km route front loads the climbing before a flattish final 100km back to the start / finish. The more compact 225km and 167km routes aren’t short of ascent though.
With 8,500 riders over three distances on closed roads, the 312 takes over this sunny island for the weekend.
7. Haute Route
Location: Various
Date: Various
Entry: https://www.hauteroute.org/
Haute Route is actually a series of multi-day road cycling events in beautiful mountainous locations.
Each day incorporates timed sections (on the flat and climbs to keep things safer) as participants compete against the clock in a general classification. Finishing is an achievement in itself though, particularly in the gruellingly hilly Pyrenees and Alps.
Haute Route claims you’ll feel like a pro thanks to the feed stations, mechanical support and post-stage massages on offer.
8. L’Étape du Tour
Location: usually the French Alps
Date: 19 July 2026 / 6 August 2026
Entry: https://www.letapedutourdefrance.com/en/ / https://www.letourfemmes.fr/fr/etape-du-tour-de-france-femmes-avec-zwift
Every year L’Étape du Tour enables amateur cyclists to ride the route of the men’s and women’s Tour de France’s hardest ‘Queen’ stage. There’s sometimes more than 4,000m of climbing to cover, so it’s a serious test even as a one-off ride.
This year’s men’s route is 170km with 5,400m of elevation over Col de la Croix de Fer, du Télégraphe, du Galibier and de Sarenne.
You’ll also be able to ride the Queen stage of the Tour de France Femmes: 120km and more than 3000m of vertical ascent. This takes place on 6 August, starting in Vaison-la-Romaine and finishing on the mythical Mount Ventoux.
9. Maratona dles Dolomites
Location: Italian Dolomites
Date: 5 July 2026
Entry: https://www.maratona.it/en/
Vying for the title of Europe’s most arduous sportive with L’Étape, Maratona dles Dolomites includes 4,230m of climbing in 138km.
The scenery is spectacular, the roads are closed but even the fittest cyclists will be challenged by the formidable Passo Giau (9.9km at 9.3%) near the 100km mark.
Shorter, still mountainous 106km and 55km routes are also available.
10. Traka Gravel
Location: Girona, Spain
Date: 30 April-3 May May 2026
Entry: https://www.thetraka.com/
Girona is the hotbed of European gravel riding and the Traka is considered the continent’s biggest and best gravel cycling event.
While technically a race, you don’t need a licence to enter. The time limit in the main 200km event is achievable for fit amateurs.
For ultra-cyclists there’s a 360km edition. At the other end of the scale, there’s a 100km course.
If you’re up for the challenge, use our free 12-week power meter training plan to prepare.
Jack Evans
