Cycling World Magazine July 2017 | Page 49

FOR THE PERFECT CYCLING EXPERIENCE

The Isle of Man -

FOR THE PERFECT CYCLING EXPERIENCE

Clear roads , challenging climbs , home of heroes .
July 2017 | 49

T

he Isle of Man ’ s beautifully diverse countryside makes it a haven for cyclists , from absolute beginners to the most hardened of road racers and mountain bikers .
Sitting in the heart of the Irish Sea , the island is easy to reach with sailings from Heysham , Liverpool , Belfast and Dublin operated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company . And when you travel by ferry there is no charge for bringing your bicycle , so there ’ s no excuse for leaving the bike at home !
The island has a strong cycling heritage , producing riders like Olympic gold medallist Peter Kennaugh and multiple Tour de France stage winner Mark Cavendish , and when you see the miles of demanding roads and challenging off-road tracks you ’ ll understand why .
Olympic Gold medallist Peter Kennaugh
ISLE OF MAN CYCLING EVENTS 2017
• British Cycling National Road Championships 22nd - 25th June www . britishcycling . org . uk
• Longest Day Longest Ride 1st - 2nd July www . ldlr . im
• Lighthouses Challenge 9th July www . sasevents . im
• Manx 100 – British Cycling National Mountain Bike Marathon Championships 30th July www . manx100 . com
• End2End Mountain Bike Challenge 10th September www . end2end . im
• Isle of Man Cycle Challenge 23rd September www . isleofmancc . com
Whether you prefer to stay on the roads or venture into the countryside you will be treated to stunning scenery and breath-taking views . With such spectacular routes it is no wonder the Isle of Man is regularly selected to host top events , like this year ’ s British Cycling National Road Championships and British Cycling National Mountain Bike Marathon Championships .
Whatever your level you ’ ll find a route to suit . Enjoy the sea air as you cycle the length of the promenade in the capital of Douglas , or test yourself on the gruelling ‘ Witches Barrel ’; a fearsome 12-mile mountain bike track with more than 2,800 feet of climbing !
From the flat terrain of the north to the extreme challenge of the TT Mountain course – a 37.73 mile mix of steep climbs , winding country roads and speedy descents that host the annual world-famous motorcycle TT road races - there ’ s a route to suit riders of all skill levels .

WIN

A BREAK FOR TWO TO THE ISLE OF MAN
Including return ferry travel for two people + car and two nights accommodation with breakfast at Mannin Hotel in Douglas .
For full details and to enter , visit : www . steam-packet . com / WIN
Competition closes Friday 30th June 2017 .
Please visit www . steam-packet . com for full terms and conditions . Non transferable and no cash alternative .
To help you make the most of your cycling visit to the Isle of Man , helpful information and guides to recommended routes are available to download from www . steam-packet . com / Douglas / Cycling