Planning for the Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge 2008 route taking shape

image: Square to Square 2008 logo

The route for the Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge

Mark Adam, British Cycling, has produced a more detailed route for the Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge 2008. Mark has detailed knowledge of much of the planned route and his expertise is invaluable for the team to be able to create a route that is manageable for what is going to be a physically demanding challenge.

The stages and distances for each day are still being completed, but the route is taking shape and becoming more details; the challenge will see each cyclist coveirng 1,400 miles for the challenge, with an average mileage of 100 per day.

This distance excludes the journey around the Isle of Wight (circa 70 miles) and the additional mileage that will be encountered for detours to camp sites, as well as avoiding high speed roads and restricted routes and tunnels that prohibit cyclists. There maybe an additional mileage of 200 miles for these variations.

After travelling to France from Portsmouth (by ferry), having cycled around the Isle of Wight before heading to Portsmouth, the route takes the team from Caen, France down through the centre of France to the south of France before moving east over the Alps into Italy and then east towards Ostellato, Italy, then south towards Rome, and the Vatican Square, Vatican City, Italy.

The challenge takes place in September 2008.

Further updates for the route will be shown on the main route page here.

Route (as at December 2007) - A Google Maps of the route is shown below.

Sincere thanks to Mark Adams, of British Cycling, for his kind assistance and knowledge in planning the route.

Work and planning on the route is still being completed for the breakdown of each day, but adjustments are still being made to each stage, in particular the Alps section - route subject to minor changes):

Circuit of Isle of Wight - 30th August 2008 (2008/08/30) - 70 miles

Ferry to Portsmouth - 30th August 2008 (2008/08/30)

Ferry from Portsmouth to Caen - 30th August 2008 (2008/08/30)

Day One: Caen, France to Nugent, France- 120 miles

Day Two: Nugent, France to Briare, France- 100 miles

Day Three: Briare, France to Bourbon-Lancy, France, 110 miles

Day Four: Bourbon-Lancy, France to Bourbon-Jaileu, France, 130 miles

The route is currently being re-calculated to change the distance for day four, five and six to make the challenge before and over the Alps more manageable for the cyclists.

Day Five: Bourjon-Jaileu, France to Briancon, France (crossing the Alps), 2056 meter climb, 113 miles - staying on the Alps overnight

Day Six: Briancon, France to Asti, Italy - 130 miles - 23 miles of descent with 32 hairpin bends! From 5 to 6 degress celsius to 30 degress celsius!

Day Seven: Asti, Italy to Parma, italy, 130 miles

Day Eight: Parmam, Italy to Ostellato, Italy, 110 miles

Day Nine: Ostellato, italy to Forli, Italy, 100 miles

Day Ten: Forli, Italy to Sienna, Italy, 100 miles

Day Eleven: not calculated yet

Day Twelve: not calculated yet

Day Thirteen: not calculated yet

Day Fourteen: The Vatican Square, Italy - 13 September 2008.

 

Further updates for the route will be shown on the main route page here.

 

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More detailed planning for the route will take place over the coming months and details will be made available once known.