Champion
Sun 30 Mar 2025 Reading, Berkshire, UK 10% off

RIDE Wessex Downs | Champion

An early season ride in the heart of Berkshire featuring some of the very best of the North Wessex Downs AONB. Earn your medal conquering the longest Champion route!

  • Sun 30 Mar 2025
  • 10% off
Pangbourne College, Reading

Champion

10% off exclusive to TimeOutdoors

07:00

£40.50

Age 16 & over

  • 100 miles road cycling + 1315 m ascent

Overview

Setting off from the grounds of Pangbourne College, the routes on this new ride serve up some of the best charity cycling sportives in the south. With a heady mix of rolling terrain and punchy climbs, it offers something for cyclists of all abilities.

With three routes to choose from there's sure to be something for every level of cyclist, from those just starting out, to more experienced riders building up strength after the winter months.

Highlights

  • Early season ride

    Part of Action's popular, annual RIDE Series.

  • Rolling terrain, punchy climbs

    The North Wessex Downs AONB, famous hillside chalk figures and surprising peace and serenity.

  • Complete day out

    Enjoy a great day in the saddle with first-class support throughout and the 'pro' feel of motorcycle outriders.

  • All levels of cyclist

    Short, medium and long rides to cater for a wide range of abilities.

  • No fundraising target

    Easy entry online with no sponsorship minimum - simply raise as much as you can.

  • Support Action Medical Research

    Ride to raise awareness and funds to help sick and disabled babies and children.

This event is part of RIDE Wessex Downs.

  • All fitness levels
  • Families
  • Newcomers
  • Spectators
  • Teams

Start times

  • 07:00 - 08:00 | Champion Road Route starts
  • 08:15 - 09:00 | Classic Road Route starts
  • 09:00 - 09:15 | Cool Road Route starts
  • 18:00 | Cut off time for finishers

E-bikes welcome

This is a traditional road sportive; the most suitable bike would be a drop handle road bike, although hybrids and e-bikes are perfectly suitable also.

  • Cafe
  • Changing facilities
  • Free parking
  • Park
  • Rural
  • Showers
  • Toilets

Event HQ

Pangbourne College
Pangbourne Road
Reading
Berkshire
RG8 8LA
UK

Pangbourne College

Pangbourne College provides the imposing backdrop to this ride.

The college was founded in 1917 as "The Nautical College, Pangbourne", whilst today it serves as a co-educational independent day and boarding school. It's ample grounds, surrounded by quiet rural roads make it an ideal venue with plenty of space to spread out, post-ride with friends and family and enjoy a well-earned refreshment!

Local area

After sampling the delights of the North Wessex Downs on your ride, why not make a weekend of it and dive deeper into this historic region of the UK. Take a trip back in time at Avebury Stone Circle, explore the imperious White Horses that adorn the hillsides, or lose yourself in the winding streets of one of the picture perfect villages dotted throughout. 

  • First aid
  • Food stations
  • Hilly
  • Marshals
  • Out and back
  • Toilets
  • Water stations
  • Wave start
  • Way markers

Overview

With three routes to choose from offering a variety of surfaces, challenging hills, rewarding views and plentiful feed stops to make it a cracking event!

Setting off from the sprawling grounds of the impressive Pangbourne College near Reading, the three sportive routes head off in a north westerly direction, with the Champion Route reaching as far south as Andover. Punchy climbs around Farnborough, and Baydon, and the long steady ascent of Combe Gibbett and Walbury Hill will have riders out of the saddle throughout the day - trust us, the views are worth it!

The North Wessex Downs, home to the newest ride in the series, is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and whilst located outside Reading, you could be mistaken for thinking that with the peace and serenity on offer you're miles from anywhere, and not just a short hop from the capital! Famed for its chalk figures carved into the hillside, as well as being the inspiration for literary classic, Watership Down, you'll need the strength of Bigwig, and the bravery of Hazel to take on over 4000ft of ascent on the Champion route.

Map

map

  • Plastic bottle free
  • Public transport links

The event encourages sustainability by using wooden medals to celebrate your achievement. It also operates no-plastic-bottle feed stations, offering water refills from water bowzers instead. Participants are encouraged to take public transport, or car-share to reach the event.

  • Chip timing
  • Medal

  • Fundraising incentives
  • Fundraising materials
  • Fundraising support

Ride for a reason

All events in the RIDE Series are organised and run by childrenโ€™s charity, Action Medical Research. By taking part in an event, not only will you have a great time with first-class support throughout the day, but youโ€™ll also be helping to raise vital funds to help sick and disabled babies and children.

There is no sponsorship target; you are simply encouraged to raise or donate as much as you can.

  • Age 16 & over
  • Entries open
  • Enter online

16 and 17 year olds must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

10% off exclusive to TimeOutdoors!

Entry fees

Early bird entry fee

£40.50

Everyone is always happy and welcoming at these events. Also the feed stations are amazing ๐Ÿคฉ Thanks to all.

Great event - Action always have friendly smiling volunteers. Really happy to see the route GPX was accurate and even the climbing was as stated (very rare) Special call out to the Rotary folk at the second stop- thank you. They couldn't do enough for us coffee, warm sausage rolls and great conversation I look forward to the next event

The event was very well organised, both leading up to the day and on the day itself. The routes were well signposted. The volunteers were wonderfully enthusiastic and supportive, and the feed stations were very welcomed. We all had a fantastic day in gorgeous sunshine and beautiful scenery. Lovely to see so many women at the event too. Can't wait to do it next year! 

My first cycling event and it didn't disappoint. 70 miles with 7 friends, celebrating 2 birthdays - my 50th and a 30th. The event was very well organised, both leading up to the day and on the day itself. The various routes were easily identifiable & well signposted. The volunteers were wonderfully enthusiastic & supportive & the Feed Stations welcomed. There was bike support & medical support, neither of which we needed, fortunately. We all had a fantastic day in gorgeous sunshine & beautiful scenery. Lovely to see so many women on the event too. Can't wait to do it next year!

Really super event. Well organised, not too busy and super friendly! The route was well signposted and the feed stations were well spaced and well stocked! The tea was amazing! Thank you!

A lovely route on mainly quiet country lanes, with plenty of climbing to get the legs going and rewarded with some great views. Very friendly staff/volunteers at the start, feed stations and at the finish. Well organised and well signed throughout the route. Quite a tough early year 100 miler but well worth the effort.

Other races at event

  • Sun 30 Mar 2025
  • #1 of 3
Pangbourne College, Reading

Cool

09:00

£28.50

Age 16 & over

  • 34 miles road cycling + 158 m ascent
  • Sun 30 Mar 2025
  • #2 of 3
Pangbourne College, Reading

Classic

08:15

£38.50

Age 16 & over

  • 70 miles road cycling + 931 m ascent