Cycling World Magazine July 2017 | Page 92

92 | Cycling World The Cotswolds is a Cycling Sensation www.cotswolds.com/cycling See the Tour of Britain in The Cotswolds Enjoy The Cotswolds by bike at any time This September, The Cotswolds will be alive with colour as the Tour of Britain races past honey coloured stone towns and stunning countryside as it completes stage seven from Hemel Hempstead to Cheltenham. The Cotswolds is perfect for cyclists as there are bridleways and quiet country lanes galore. As we are known for our rolling hills, you’ll struggle to avoid a few uphill stretches but at least most are relatively short and gentle. Your efforts will have earned you a freewheel downhill afterwards and a guilt free drink and meal in one of the wonderful Cotswold inns which are so thoughtfully scattered along your route! The race takes in the wonderful Cotswold market towns of Charlbury, Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, Moreton-in-Marsh and Winchcombe before tackling the SKODA King of the Mountains climb on Cleeve Hill. Each of these beautiful towns have a special character and feel but every one of them is worth a visit. After racing through the market towns of the Cotswolds the race finishes in egency Cheltenham on the iconic romenade. t s not difficult to imagine the excited crowds lining the streets and as it s the first time that Cheltenham will have hosted the O O nergy Tour of Britain, they are bound to be out in full force. Please join us in the Cotswolds to cheer the Tour of Britain riders along. Many local events around the whole route are planned including a sportive from Cirencester the day after the race (10th September), many cycling festivities in Winchcombe as well as a vintage bike ride from Stow to Bourton on the Water. Check out www.cotswolds.com/tourofbritain for the latest events taking place. If you want company on your cycling break then within the Cotswolds there are several companies offering guided or self-guided cycling tours and holidays. f you travel with someone who doesn’t love cycling as much as you do then there’s even one with electric bikes! You can also just pick up a bike in the local town you are staying in to explore the town and countryside. With Bainton Bikes, you can collect a bike from many Cotswold towns and drop it at another. If you prefer to do your own thing there are a number of downloadable cycle rides on www.cotswolds.com/cycling or just buy a map and plan your own route. Visit www.cotswolds.com for a wide choice of accommodation and places to visit.