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Etape Caledonia announces unique route reversal
Etape Caledonia, the UK's original closed-roads sportive, has today revealed the route for its Autumn edition that will see participants being given a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to cycle the iconic challenge in reverse.
It is expected to be the first major sporting event to return to Perthshire since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. In response to the restrictions, organisers LimeLight Sports had already pivoted the event from its traditional May staging to a new date of Sunday September 19th. This date change is intended to give the event its best chances of going ahead, accommodating both the gradual easing of restrictions and unrestricted access to Pitlochry's vaccination hub located at the Atholl Centre on West Moulin Road. It is also anticipated that the event will deliver a welcome boost to the local hospitality and tourism economy this September, with over 5000 participants expected to take part in event. The decision to reverse the route was reached, following consultation with the local community and Perth & Kinross Council, after it transpired that the new Autumn date clashed with peak potato harvesting season in the region.
Participants will still set off from Pitlochry in the early hours of Sunday 19thSeptember but, instead of heading North as they have done in previous years, the reversed route will now take them South towards Logierait, through Aberfeldy, then North towards Schiehallion. Participants cycling the 85 miles route will loop around Loch Rannoch before heading back towards Pitlochry along the banks of Loch Tummel. This unique route reversal gives the opportunity for participants to see the climb of Schiehallion from a totally new perspective, and to tackle the ascent from a very different angle. Riders will enjoy a very unique challenge which will be physically testing, as well as a novel way to see this iconic route from a brand-new perspective.
James Robinson, managing director at Limelight Sports Club, said:
"Etape Caledonia is a really fantastic event and I am genuinely delighted that it will be back in Highland Perthshire this Autumn. The pandemic has definitely dealt a series of major operational challenges to event operators of all shapes and sizes. Our team, the local community and Perth & Kinross Council have worked incredibly hard to develop innovative solutions to problems created by the pandemic and we're really grateful for their support and commitment to ensuring the event goes ahead. We are all really looking forward to seeing everyone come together once again to take in the beauty of Highland Perthshire in Autumn and enjoy its much-missed hospitality. Over the years, participants have suggested to us the possibility of doing the route in reverse. Now, thanks to this rather exceptional and unusual combination of potatoes and a pandemic, this year's participants will be able to take advantage of that once in a lifetime opportunity to cycle the route in reverse.
"Cycling has also seen a surge in interest over the last 18 months, and we are keen for as many people as possible to experience the unique sensation of cycling on exclusively closed roads, whilst taking in the dramatic hilltop views and sweeping descents that the event offers. Etape Caledonia is the UK's original closed road cycling event and we hope all of the participants enjoy this unique experience being part of this challenging and exciting sportive in this once-in-a-lifetime format."
This will be the 14thEtape Caledonia event to be held in Highland Perthshire. While places for the 40 mile route option have already sold out, a small number of general and premium places for the 85 mile route remain available.
Organisers are encouraging participants to consider riding to raise funds for the event's two charity partners, Marie Curie and Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance. Charity places at the event are still available and many charities saw their critical fundraising incomes fall over the course of the pandemic, as a result of the restrictions placed on mass participation events. By cycling for Team Marie Curie, participants are enabling Marie Curie Nurses to continue to provide essential care to people living with a terminal illness, and vital emotional support to their loved ones. Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance, the country's only charity-funded air ambulance, delivers expert paramedic care to the scene of time-critical emergencies and participants fundraising for SCAA will enable it to continue to deliver its lifesaving work.
For those looking to participate this Autumn, the remaining places for Etape Caledonia 2021 are available to book online atwww.etapecaledonia.co.uk
ENDS
For media enquiries contact Tricia Fox on 01738 700130 ort.fox@volpa.co.uk
EDITORS' NOTES
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2. ETAPE CALEDONIA FAST FACTS
Founded:2007.
Distances:85 Mile and 40 Mile Routes.
Total Ascent:1,949m.
Charity Donations Raised by Participants:Over £2.5million, including £1.6 million for Marie Curie
Location:Around Highland Perthshire, starting and finishing in Pitlochry.
Event Capacity:5700 cyclists.
3. ABOUT ETAPE CALEDONIA
Background:The UK's first and only closed road mass participation cycling event, Etape Caledonia has attracted more than 35,000 people since it debuted in 2007. With over 5,000 places on offer each year, this sell-out event attracts riders from all over the country to take on one of the most breath-taking rides through the spectacular Highlands Perthshire countryside. The event appeals to cycle club enthusiasts, recreational cyclists, gym members and those looking for a new physical challenge in the stunning Highland Perthshire area.www.etapecaledonia.co.uk
Route:This year's event has two distances for you to choose from:
85-mile route:85 miles of closed road cycling beginning and concluding in Pitlochry. The course consists of a demanding climb of Mt Schiehallion (1,083m) combined with rolling hills and forest-lined roads around Loch Rannoch and Loch Tummel.
40-mile route:A 40-mile option of closed road cycling beginning in Pitlochry. The course will take you South West towards Aberfeldy before turning right, away from the 85-mile route before it reaches Schiehallion and Loch Rannoch, and then East towards Pitlochry along the banks of Loch Tummel.
4. ABOUT MARIE CURIE- care and support through terminal illness
Marie Curie is the UK's leading charity for people with any terminal illness. The charity helps people living with a terminal illness and their families make the most of the time they have together by delivering expert hands-on care, emotional support, research and guidance.
Marie Curie employs more than 2,700 nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals, and with its nine hospices around the UK, is the largest provider of hospice beds outside the NHS.www.mariecurie.org.uk
5. ABOUT SCOTLAND'S CHARITY AIR AMBULANCE
Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) saves and improves lives across Scotland, delivering expert paramedic care to the scene of time-critical emergencies, 365 days a year. As the country's only charity-funded air ambulance, SCAA relies entirely on public donations to fuel its life-saving flights that bring help and hope to those suffering serious injury or illness.
From our bases in Perth and Aberdeen, SCAA can reach 90% of Scotland's population within 25 minutes - saving time and saving lives.
6. ABOUT LIMELIGHT SPORTS GROUP
LimeLight Sports Groupis the parent company of a sports marketing family that unlocks the power of participation and is guided by a single vision: Creating an active world. Together.
Limelight Sports Group has three divisions: LimeLight Sports, the agency; LimeLight Sports Club, the rightsholder; and LimeLight Sports Technologies, the digital enhancer.
LimeLight Sports. Focused on creating bespoke participation journeys, experiences and active campaigns for our partners, including Nike, Royal Bank of Canada, The FA, The Royal Parks, J.P. Morgan, Team GB and The Swimathon Foundation.
LimeLight Sports Club. Delivering premium mass sporting experiences for brands and consumers. Our portfolio of owned events includes: London Triathlon, Blenheim Palace Triathlon, Hackney Moves, Asics London 10K, London Duathlon, Oxford Half Marathon and Etape Caledonia.
LimeLight Sports Technologies. Harnessing the power of digital and data to enhance and personalise the active world experience for brands and consumers.