- Sun 12 Apr 2026
Mega
08:00
Age 15 & over
£43
- 50 miles gravel riding + 4616 ft ascent
Event overview
The Haldon Heroic is a Gravel Ride / CX sportive showcasing the best gravel trails in the Haldon Forest area!
There will be a professional photographer out on the course, taking action photos as a memento of your day, which are free to you. There will also be a professional Sports Massage Therapist available at the HQ (for an additional fee) and a free Bike Wash Bay.
All finishers will receive the unique Haldon Heroic medal. The event is featured in 2024 Best of the Year on offroad.cc and Red Bull’s Best Cyclocross and Gravel Events. It was also reviewed by Cycling Weekly.
The Micro route will be way-marked (which is also the start and finish of the longer routes). However the Mega and Medio routes will be predominantly self nav. Accurate, downloadable electronic routes compatible with most devices can be downloaded or you can follow the route on your mobile phone using the free RWGPS app. There'll be full technical support in advance of the event to ensure you have the correct route loaded.
New! Prize segment
A great new, and little known, section of gravel track has been added to all three routes. The climb back up is also the Prize Segment. There’ll be a sign to mark the segment start and the finish is just before the gate. There will be prizes for the fastest times and also spot prizes drawn at random for everyone who joins the free Strava Club and uploads their ride before the deadline.
This event is part of Haldon Heroic.
Event photos
Event video
- All fitness levels
- Event village
- Newcomers
Kit list
A recommended kit list is available.
- Cafe
- Free parking
- Rural
- Toilets
Event HQ
Exeter Racecourse
Kennford
Exeter
Devon
EX6 7XS
UK
Camping
There is a camping and caravan site at the racecourse right next to the start.
Parking
There is ample parking at the Racecourse.
- Bone conducting headphones only
- Distance markers
- First aid
- Food stations
- Marshals
- Navigation required
- No headphones
- Sweeper
- GPX available
GPX route
The route is displayed on the map above.
The Haldon Heroic is a gravel ride / CX sportive showcasing the best gravel trails in the Haldon Forest Area.
The Micro route (which is also the start and finish of the longer routes) is fully way-marked. The Mega and Medio routes are predominantly self navigation. Accurate, downloadable GPX Files compatible with most devices are provided.
Or you can follow the route on your mobile phone using Komoot. Free Komoot navigation is included with your entry. And the Komoot app for Garmin makes it super-easy to get the routes onto your device. There is full technical support in advance of the event to ensure you have the correct route loaded.
- Recycling
- Sustainability policy
- Trees not tees
Sportiva Events is doing its best to minimise the environmental impact of this event. Here are a few of their initiatives:
Sustainability
Trees not tees
For all events which include a t-shirt, there is the option to plant a tree instead through a partnership with Treesnottees
Avoid single-use plastics
New paper cups have been sourced to be fully recycled back into high-grade paper.
Optional medals
Lots of competitors are not interested in finishers' medals so they are now optional. A £2 charity donation is made for every medal not selected.
Swim hats on request
Swim hats are provided for open water swimming events as they help the water safety teams keep track of swimmers. However for all pool events, swim hats are now on request to reduce wastage.
Reuseable zip ties and recycling
Reusable zip ties are used and all rubbish is sorted for recycling after the event.
Reducing car use
At the Burrator 10K running race those who commit to walking or cycling to the event get £5 discount.
- Chip timing
- Map
- Medal
- Race photo
- T-shirt
Included
- Chip timing
- Quality event t-shirt (for entries 3 weeks before event date)
- Haldon Heroic medal for all finishers
- Finish line beer
- Professional event photographs
- Event HQ (toilets, free parking, food)
- Public liability insurance
- Professional First Aid
Optional extra
- Sports Massage Therapy (additional charge of £5)
- Age 15 & over
- Entries open
- Enter online
Entry fees
Entry fee
£43.00
Great event. Really well organised & a great atmosphere. Enjoyed the route & even got a medal, a tee shirt & choice of goody. Perfect. Rob H
Haldon Heroic was a fantastic event. It was very well organised. The feed stations were well stocked with great ride fuel, including bacon rolls and a hot coffee. The course was very well planned, it was awesome to ride. I will be returning again next year. David A
This was my first gravel cycling event. I came into it not really knowing what to expect, but I came away very happy. Course was fantastic, really good mix of fire roads, single track trails, green lanes and tarmac (there's a real buzz descending down a fire road at speed!). Event organisers and marshalls were helpful and friendly as were other riders and the food at the feed stations was very good. Already counting down until next year's event. Tom C
A very interesting event with many interesting routes. Lots of photos from the event. Piotr L
Sportiva did a great job again! A tough ride, but great event. Did it for the second time and enjoyed it a lot. Thank you very much for the day and hands together for all the outstanding kind volunteers that made this possible. I will definitly return for this next year for this event! Robin D
Great day! Can’t wait for the next. Marc M
Cracking event, a challenging course around an area I know, yet so many trails and tracks I've never ridden. I'd recommend to anyone, a great day of riding! Jonathan G
Reviews thanks to RaceCheck