Tag: Cycling

6Oct By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Editor's Pick, Holidays & Trips

Self-guided cycling holidays through Italy’s Prosecco hills

Famous as the destination that produces one of the world’s most popular drinks, Italy’s Prosecco hills are also a Unesco World Heritage Site (awarded in 2019).  Saddle Skedaddle’s gentle, seven-day, self-guided cycling holiday through the vineyards of Prosecco begins with a ride favoured by the locals in the foothills of the Montello, before climbing to the town of Asolo; designated one of Italy’s most beautiful.  Crossing the Piave River into the heart of the Prosecco region, the route passes vineyard after vineyard, including Conegliano Valdobbiadene which produces Prosecco Superiore DOCG, and the exclusive DOCG Cartizze sparkling wine. After exploring the lakes around Revine, Lago di St Maria, and Lago di Lago, the final few days in the saddle takes riders past some of ...

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1Sep By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Holidays & Trips

Road cycling holidays: Morocco’s Atlas Mountains 

With an ever-expanding network of quiet tarmac roads, there’s never been a better time to explore Morocco’s Atlas Mountains by bike. Saddle Skedaddle’s 10-day road cycling holiday takes a challenging route over the mountainous landscape to let riders experience some tough climbs and exciting descents.  Beginning in Marrakech, the trip starts with a steady climb into the Toubkal National Park before joining the old Marrakech to Agadir road to one of the prettiest towns in the High Atlas, Ouirgane. Tackle one of Africa’s highest paved roads, the infamous Test Pass (Tizi-n-Test), before exploring the vast expanse of the Souss Valley. The Anti-Atlas Mountains provide more exhilarating riding as the landscape changes from argan forests to wild moorland.  After a well-earned res...

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13Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Editor's Pick, Holidays & Trips

Epic Road Rides: five of the best UK cycling destinations

Dig your bike out of the shed and head for the open road on a British cycling adventure. From demanding climbs to sedate converted railway line routes, the team from Epic Road Rides pick out five of the best destinations for cycling in the United Kingdom. Outer Hebrides, Scotland  The magical Western Isles of Scotland are home to the 185-mile Hebridean Cycle Route, an iconic cycling journey taking in 10 islands, including Barra, North Uist, Harris and Lewis. The manageable gradients and fact you can break the route up into whatever chunks you like, makes it ideally suited for a range of cyclists. Abundant wildlife, fun ferry crossings, ancient stone circles, countless white beaches and turquoise waters await those willing to brave the (sometimes ferocious) Scottish wind. This is UK ...

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11Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Holidays & Trips

Cycling in Argyll, Scotland, with Markus Stitz and The Pierhouse Hotel

The Pierhouse Hotel at Port Appin in Argyll, Scotland, has teamed up with leading adventure cyclist Markus Stitz to host a new cycling retreat from 18-20 October 2024. Cycling enthusiasts will be offered the opportunity to join Stitz as he explores some of his favourite Argyll cycle trails on gravel tracks, quiet roads and cycle paths. He will also host a dinner and an entertaining talk for guests. The retreat is part of a wider campaign to attract more cyclists to the hotel and the wider Argyll region over the quieter autumn and winter months. In partnership with Stitz and Bikepacking Scotland, The Pierhouse has created a variety of cycling routes to suit guests with different abilities. Special packed lunches to help fuel hungry cyclists, as well as bike storage and cleaning faciliti...

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11Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Holidays & Trips

Cycling adventures in Sweden: the Lelångenleden trail

The Lelångenleden is a new regional cycling route in Sweden stretching 180km from Uddevalla by the sea, through the lakes of Dalsland, and up to the forests of Årjäng in Värmland. This trail offers a diverse cycling experience suitable for all levels, featuring gravel roads, dense forests, and charming rural towns with cultural and natural attractions. Recognised by the Swedish Transport Administration, the Lelångenleden trail follows the historic Lelångenbanan railway line for much of its length, providing cyclists with a unique blend of history and nature. The route offers a diverse cycling experience, with roughly half its path consisting of hard-packed gravel roads with minimal traffic, making it both accessible and enjoyable. A collaborative effort for tourism and recreation ...

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7Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Editor's Pick, England, Holidays & Trips, Scotland

Cycling holidays: e-bike from Land’s End to John O’Groats

The rise in popularity of electric bikes has opened up the world of cycling – helping people ride further distances and explore more of the places they’re visiting. For anyone that’s ever dreamed of completing the iconic Land's End to O'Groats (LEJOG) cycle ride, but have been put off at the thought of tackling the 1,000-plus mile journey on a traditional bike, cycling holiday company Saddle Skedaddle has the answer. The Newcastle-based independent company has launched a new hybrid e-bike version of its 22-day Land's End to John O'Groats cycling holiday. The new e-bike trips in 2025 provide some added power behind each pedal, meaning more people can enjoy the epic ride from the Cornish coast to the Scottish Highlands. Despite the extra boost provided by the e-bikes, this is still a cha...

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23May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Holidays & Trips

Traws Eryri: tackle Snowdonia’s ultimate mountain biking route with Adventure Tours UK

Adventure Tours UK, a B-Corp-certified adventure travel company that creates world-class UK holidays for outdoor enthusiasts, has launched the ultimate mountain biking tour in Snowdonia, north Wales.  The Traws Eryri (Trans Snowdonia) mountain biking tour invites bikers to embark on a 225km adventure along Britain’s newest long-distance off-road cycling route this summer, pedalling up the equivalent of Wales’s highest mountain, Snowdon, more than four times. The Traws Eryri route itself was announced by Cycling UK just last year.  Claire Copeman, co-founder of Adventure Tours UK, said: “The Traws Eryri route is set to elevate the UK’s offering for multi-day mountain biking and our tour guides riders every step of the way. Climbing Wales’ steep hills and tackling its varied...

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23May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business

KE Adventure Travel acquires Freewheel Holidays and Wheel2Wheel Holidays

KE Adventure Travel, the specialist walking and cycling tour operator based in England’s Lake District, has acquired leisure cycling brands Freewheel Holidays and Wheel2Wheel Holidays from Manchester-based international running and cycling tour operator, Sports Tours International. The addition of these two established brands will greatly enhance KE's current cycle offering, with their focus on easier European cycling routes. Ashley Toft, CEO of KE Adventure Travel, said: “We are delighted to welcome Freewheel Holidays and Wheel2Wheel Holidays to KE and to the wider Voyageurs du Monde group. They are two brands with a loyal customer base and a strong online presence, and we look forward to developing both brands, and accelerating our growth in this buoyant leisure cycling market.” K...

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12May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business

Chalet specialist OVO Network partners with bike rental company Bcyclet 

With demand for cycling in France up 31% according to the latest figures from France Vélo Tourisme, chalet rental specialist OVO Network has teamed up with bike rental company Bcyclet to offer guests a 5% discount on bike hire and accessories from big brands such as Scott and Apidura.  Bcyclet offers delivery of the rental bikes directly to more than 200 OVO Network chalets across the French and Swiss Alps as well as providing a range of services including private cycle guides, van support and airport transfers.  Chris Thompson, director of OVO Network, said: “Every year our owners welcome more guests who want to spend at least part of their holiday cycling. Some bring their own bikes, but for most bike rental is the easiest, most convenient option and Bcyclet delivers thi...

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4May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Holidays & Trips

Cycling holidays inspired by Tour de France and 2024 Olympics

The eyes of the sporting world will be firmly fixed on France this summer as it hosts the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games and the 111th edition of the Tour de France – cycling’s most iconic road cycling event. For cyclists and active travel enthusiasts looking to experience their own sporting adventure in France this year, independent cycling holiday company Saddle Skedaddle has a range of road cycling trips that combine highlights of Le Tour with the country’s stunning landscapes and scenery. To mark this year’s Grand Depart in Florence and Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, Saddle Skedaddle is also offering a relaxed, self-guided leisure cycling holiday that takes riders on a culinary tour of the Emilia-Romagna region – from Cremona in the north, to Bologna in the south. Tackle...

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29Nov By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Holidays & Trips

Cycling holidays 2024: new tours along Spain’s Camino de Santiago

Famous as a walking route, northern Spain’s Camino de Santiago is also growing in popularity with cyclists. New tours along the pilgrim trail by cycling holidays company Saddle Skedaddle give riders the chance to explore more of the network of camino ways that lead to the city of Santiago de Compostela. Bilbao to Santiago road cycling holidays This newly-extended Camino de Santiago tour takes riders from Bilbao, along the dramatic Atlantic coastline, into the wild Camino Primitivo mountains, before reaching Santiago de Compostela. After collecting the pilgrim’s stamp, riders head out of Bilbao and along the rugged coastline of the Cantabrian Sea before leaving the Basque Country for Cantabria. The route then journeys through the natural parks of Liencres and Oyambre before following...

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25Nov By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Holidays & Trips

Cycling holidays 2024: new tour to Lower Silesia in Poland

Small group cycling and walking holidays company The Slow Cyclist has announced a new exploration of the rural patchwork of landscapes in Poland’s Lower Silesia region, which borders Germany and northern Czechia. This charming corner of Poland is home to lush forests, gently rolling hills, extinct volcanoes, and beautiful castles which Slow Cyclists will discover over five days.  Far away from busy cities and mass tourism, Lower Silesia is an area of Poland where time seems to stand still, dotted with an eclectic mix of architectural styles, from Gothic to Neoclassical, showing off the area's rich, and often turbulent, history. The Slow Cyclist’s itinerary allows for plenty of time in the saddle during the day, but also lots of time to enjoy delicious local meals and relax in beautiful...

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25Nov By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Holidays & Trips

Wilderness Scotland’s new trips for 2024: walking, retreats and road cycling

Wilderness Scotland has introduced a range of new guided trips for 2024. There’s a luxurious tour of the Highlands, with exclusive stays and access, a women-only retreat to the Cairngorms, and two new e-biking itineraries, to the Orkneys and the white-sand fringed Outer Hebrides.  Wilderness walking: highlights of the Highlands  This new nine-night, fully guided trip combines the very best of the Highlands’ wild beauty with superb, luxury hotels, offering the finest seasonal food, all while enjoying some stunning hiking. Highlights include: a boat trip to the remote shores of Loch Coruisk on Skye; hiking in Glencoe in the company of red deer and golden eagles; a visit to the Culloden Battlefield; hiking in the Cairngorms National Park; and guided tours of Scone Palace and the D...

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14Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Scotland, Sports Business, Sports Travel

UCI Cycling World Championships attracts record crowds in Scotland

The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow and across Scotland have taken the sport to “new heights”, according to UCI president David Lappartient. It’s estimated that one million spectators turned out to watch the 11-day festival of cycling, while millions more tuned in around the world. The final event of the programme, the Women Elite Road Race, brought the curtain down on the inaugural event that has seen 13 UCI world championships combined into one mega event for the first time ever. Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky claimed the top spot following a thrilling finish to the race that saw tens of thousands line the route between Balloch and Glasgow. It was the first time the women’s elite road race has closed a UCI World Championship, with 207 riders (including women under-23) tak...

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2Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Hotels & Resorts

Flandrien Hotel: a dream retreat for cyclists in Belgium

Flanders, the Flemish region of Belgium, is world renowned for its cycling – especially on its iconic cobbled lanes. Home to many beautiful routes and its own annual race on the UCI World Tour, Flanders has become a must-visit destination for travellers on two wheels.  The region is also home to the Flandrien Hotel, which is described by the Daily Mail as the “ultimate place to stay for cyclists”, and a place which “pays homage” to “pedal power”. This boutique cycling-themed hotel in Brakel, Flemish Ardennes, has accommodation for up to 40 guests, plus a bike collection regarded as one of the “best in the world”, according to Cyclist magazine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4rCVzstFuY Not just any cycling hotel… The Flandrien Hotel describes itself as a “home away from ho...

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30Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Guides

Cycling in Emilia Romagna, Italy: top five biking experiences

Following the conclusion of the 2023 Tour de France, attention is now turning to 2024 which will mark the 111th edition of the cycling grand tour. The 2024 Tour de France “Grand Depart” will begin in Italy for the first time in the race’s history, with the Tuscan city of Florence hosting the opening stage on 29 June. Cyclists will then enter the Italian region of Emilia Romagna, passing through key checkpoints including Bologna, Rimini, Cesenatico and Plaisance. Globally recognised as a cycling destination, Emilia Romagna will soon be able to label itself as an official Tour de France host, adding to its list of credentials from the Giro d'Italia to the Nove Colli di Cesenatico. To get travellers in the mood ahead of Le Tour next year, here are five cycling experiences to try when visi...

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27Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Holidays & Trips, Scotland, Sports Travel

Scottish cycling holidays: epic adventures with Wilderness Scotland

From 3-13 August Glasgow and Scotland will play host to the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, with the world’s finest cyclists set for fierce competition on the country’s trails, tracks and roads.  For those keen to experience their own two-wheeled adventure, specialist tour operator Wilderness Scotland offers a range of cycling trips across the Highlands and Islands. Either led by expert guides or self-guided, the trips offer challenging single tracks and sweeping roads, while the epic scenery of the Highlands unfolds at a slower, more immersive pace.  North Coast 500  Scotland’s answer to Route 66, the North Coast 500 is one of the world’s most renowned road routes, but one best enjoyed at the slower pace of two wheels. This week-long guided tour takes cyclists to the NC500...

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27Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Guides, Holidays & Trips, Sports Travel

Aosta Valley: summer adventures in Italy’s smallest region

At the heart of the Alps and bordered by France and Switzerland, the Aosta Valley in northwest Italy is surrounded by some of Europe's highest peaks: Cervino, Monte Rosa, Gran Paradiso and Mont Blanc.  Offering mountaineering, walks and hikes featuring alpine nature and spectacular vistas, Italy's smallest region is also a top destination for cycling and mountain biking enthusiasts, with dedicated tracks and numerous stations with bike parks and downhill circuits. Other highlights include summer skiing, golf and water sports such as canyoning, rafting or canoeing.  Here’s a look at some of the adventures and activities on offer in Aosta Valley this summer…  Hiking at Cammino Balteo This is a circular itinerary of under 220 miles with an altitude between 500m and 1,90...

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18Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Holidays & Trips, Sports Travel

Cycling in Catalonia: from the Mediterranean coast to the Pyrenees

From the high Pyrenees mountains to the wetlands of Terres de l’Ebre along the Mediterranean coast, Catalonia offers cycling fans everything they need for a memorable journey on two wheels. In addition to the pleasant temperatures all year round, quiet roads and specialised accommodation offer all guarantees and services for this sport. Catalonia’s rich terrain has also led to the creation of 18 mountain biking centres and trails, comprising more than 6,400km of marked itineraries taking you to every corner of the destination. Mile upon mile of well-maintained road routes, as well as bespoke services and accommodation, Catalonia is a land where everything is within reach. Catalonia accounts with more than 60 accommodation facilities with the Cycling in Catalonia label, recognised as bi...

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18Feb By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Holidays & Trips, Sports Travel

Sports holidays: adventure cycling in South Korea with Saddle Skedaddle

Cycling holiday company Saddle Skedaddle has launched a new guided adventure in South Korea that takes riders from Seoul to Busan. The 14-day cycling trip explores the history, culture and cuisine of this often overlooked part of Asia.  Beginning in the capital Seoul, the route follows the newly-developed Cheonggyecheon Stream Bike Path, cutting through the heart of the city all the way to the Han River Bikeway.  Joining the South Han River Bike Path in Yangpyeong, it’s a fairly flat ride to the county of Angsung where the area’s famous hot springs are ready to treat weary legs after a long day in the saddle. More hot springs await in the town of Suanbo, North Chungcheong, where the healing waters have been part of Korean culture for centuries.  The changing scenery leaving ...

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