Best sportives and gran fondos: 25 to consider

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Mass participation cycling has never been more popular. Not a week goes by without news of a new event popping up somewhere around the globe, but there are some that stand out from the crowd.

Here's a selection of the best sportives and gran fondos around the globe for you to enter in 2017.

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These events have typically been running for many years, often building themselves up slowly and growing bigger year after year.

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They usually have an out-of-the-ordinary route, perhaps set in a stunning part of the world, or are simply famed for being lung-bustingly tough.

Maybe they accompany a professional race on the same weekend, giving punters the chance to take in some elite racing on the same trip, or traverse the same mythical mountains that you've seen on TV.

Whatever the reason, they are all unquestionably the rides to do before you die.

Best UK sportives

Fred Whitton Challenge

• Where: Lake District, Cumbria
• When: May
• Distances: 180km
• More info: http://ift.tt/JH7PHh

Dragon Ride

• Where: Port Talbot, South Wales
• When: June
• Distances: 100km / 153km / 230km / 305km
• More info: www.humanrace.co.uk

RideLondon

• Where: London / Surrey
• When: July
• Distances: 160km / 74km
• More info: http://ift.tt/14nbao3

Velothon Wales

• Where: Cardiff
• When: July
• Distances: 140km / 110km
• More info: www.velothon.com

Bealach Mor

• Where: Applecross Peninsula, northern Scotland
• When: September
• Distances: 145km
• More info: http://ift.tt/1Dixqwy

Best European sportives and gran fondos

Mallorca 312

• Where: Mallorca, Spain
• When: April
• Distances: 167 km / 225 km / 312 km
• More info: www.mallorca312.com

Paris-Roubaix Challenge

• Where: Roubaix, France
• When: April
• Distances: 70km / 145km / 172km
• More info: http://ift.tt/2kaY2Li

Liège-Bastogne-Liège Challenge

• Where: Liège, Belgium
• When: April
• Distances: 75km / 156km / 273km
• More info: http://ift.tt/2kaXbdA

Tour of Flanders

• Where: Oudenaarde, Belgium
• When: April
• Distances: 74km / 141km / 200km / 237km
• More info: www.sport.be

Quebrantahuesos

• Where: Sabiñanigo, northern Spain
• When: June
• Distances: 85km / 200km
• More info: http://ift.tt/KKRiQM

Vätternrundan

• Where: Motala, Sweden
• When: June
• Distances: 100km / 150km / 300km
• More info: www.vätternrundan.se

La Marmotte Gran Fondo Series

• Where: Alps / Pyrenees
• When: June / July
• Distances: various
• More info: marmottegranfondoseries.com

L'Étape du Tour

• Where: Alps/Pyrenees
• When: July
• Distances: 178km
• More info: www.letapedutour.com

Maratona dles Dolomites

• Where: Dolomites, northern Italy
• When: July
• Distances: 55km / 106km / 138km
• More info: www.maratona.it

Haute Route Alpes

• Where: from Nice (France) to Geneva (Switzerland)
• When: August
• Distances: 894km spread over seven mountain stages
• More info: www.hauteroute.org

L’Eroica

• Where: Gaiole in Chianti, Italy
• When: October
• Distances: 46km/ 75km / 115km / 135km / 209km
• More info: www.eroicagaiole.com

Best sportives and gran fondos in North America

Campagnolo’s Gran Fondo New York

• Where: New York City
• When: May
• Distances: 80km / 161km
• More info: gfny.com

Mavic Haute Route Rockies

• Where: Boulder to Colorado Springs, Colorado
• When: June
• Distances: 815km in seven stages
• More info: www.hauteroute.org

Triple Bypass

• Where: Bergen Park to Avon, Colorado
• When: July
• Distances: 193km
• More info: www.triplebypass.org

Hotter'N Hell Hundred

• Where: Wichita Falls, Texas
• When: August
• Distances: 10km / 40km / 80km / 100km / 120km / 161km
• More info: www.hh100.org

Levi’s Gran Fondo

• Where: Santa Rosa, California
• When: September
• Distances: 11 routes from 13km for families up to 188km
• More info: http://ift.tt/QKXE3Q

Best sportives and gran fondos in Australia and New Zealand

Wiggle Amy’s Gran Fondo

• Where: Lorne, Victoria, Australia
• When: September
• Distances: 7 km / 45 km / 120 km
• More info: amysgranfondo.org.au

Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge

• Where: Lake Taupo, North Island, New Zealand
• When: November
• Distances: various
• More info: http://ift.tt/11LN05J

L’Étape Australia

• Where: Snowy Mountains, New South Wales
• When: December
• Distances: 126 km / 157 km
• More info: letapeaustralia.com

Best sportives and gran fondos in Africa

Cape Town Cycle Tour

• Where and when: Cape Town, South Africa
• When: March
• Distances: 109km
• More info: http://ift.tt/1QOGA9Y

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