How Do You Start Training For A Sportive?

If you’ve been cycling for a while you might want to set yourself a new challenge and a sportive could be the ideal option. A sportive is a timed long-distance cycling event, but it’s not a race against other competitors. 

While there will be lots of cyclists taking part, the only battle is between you and the clock. In Europe, these events are called Gran Fondos, which do have a more competitive vibe than a British sportive.  

This makes sportives a great starting point if you want to get into racing, as you can experience that kind of environment without the pressure of competing. 

As sportive courses are long distance, you need to train properly to take part in one. The good news is that the distances vary, so you can choose one that feels achievable based on your experience and fitness. Sportives are usually graded too, which helps you work out how challenging a ride will be. 

Check out the UK Cycling Events website for some fantastic UK Sportives, covering most of the country, and offering distances for everyone. 

Your training plan will depend on what level you’re at and how long your first sportive is, but the general rule is to make sure you can comfortably cycle at least 60 per cent of the distance you’re targeting. Ideally, you’ll have completed at least one ride that’s 75 per cent of the distance before you attend the sportive. 

Usually, this means you’ll need a training plan that gradually increases the distance you’re cycling to ensure you have the endurance you need. 

A cycling coach can help you map all of this out, as well as ensuring that you train at the right intensity on your rides to get you in the best possible shape.

A coach will use training zones to help you build up your strength and endurance. While it’s important to put in the hours on your bike ahead of a sportive, don’t forget to build in recovery time too. That might be in the form of an easy ride, or having a couple of days off your bike completely.  

Don’t forget to train for the experience as well as the distance. By that we mean get used to riding in a group of other cyclists. 

If you’re not already a member of a local cycling club, you might want to join one to allow you to get out on the roads as part of a bigger group.