A recent string of rescheduled, cancelled and postponed sportive and gravel events in the United Kingdom has amateur cyclists trying to keep a stiff upper lip.

Britain’s largest gravel event, Dirty Reiver, has postponed the 17 April event to 11 September 2021 or April 2022 – whichever the virus will allow.  “We’re sure that this news won’t come as a surprise to most of you, but having tried to keep Reiver hopes alive, we must now concede that we won’t all be gathering in Kielder in April. The Dirty Reiver 2021 is now booked in for the weekend of September 11th.

Sold out Fred Whitton Challenge Sportive originally 9 May has been booted to 19 September. The change was announced via social media, “Unfortunately due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation in the UK, the Fred Whitton Challenge Steering group have made the unanimous decision to reschedule the Saddleback Fred Whitton Challenge.”

Wicklow 200, Ireland’s longest running gran fondo, has decided to skip 2021 altogether.  “We are very sorry to let you know that due to the ongoing pandemic restrictions and rate of infection in the community the Wicklow 200 cycle will not be going ahead this year. Registered participants will be automatically transferred to Wicklow 200 2022 edition on 12 June,” the event released in a statement.

Etape Caledonia, the highly anticipated closed-road sportive in the Scottish Highlands, will now be held on 19 September in stead of 16 May.  “We can’t, of course, guarantee that some restrictions won’t need to be in place come September. However, we feel much more confident that staging Etape Caledonia later in the year will give us the best opportunity to provide you with the full event experience, as well as giving you as much certainty as we can with regard your training journey, and therefore event enjoyment,” a spokesperson said.

On a cautiously positive note, the promoter of the King’s Cup Gravel National Championships announced it will take place three weeks earlier than originally scheduled. “We know you’re all excited to get back to gravel adventuring and racing, so we’ve got some great news for you. The King’s Cup Gravel Festival and inaugural British Gravel Championships have been brought forward to September 3rd – 5th 2021.” 

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