The Cotswold Cross 2023

Sunday 26th March 2023

On & off road gravel sportive

  • "Fantastic day! More brutal than expected, but it was all worth it at the end! Ended up doing the 35km due to a broken seat post. Thank you to the event organisers, everyone who shouted encouragement and excellent food stations!"

    Kass

  • "Thanks Bagman - a thoroughly enjoyable event yesterday. Excellent brownie at the feed stations, and a most memorable descent into the Slad valley."

    Colin

  • "Tough and very enjoyable, the weather helped. I'm paying for it today though as I had a CX!"

    Stephen

  • "Thank you all Marshall’s and helpers. Without you, there wouldn’t be an event like that. I thanked ever Marshall I saw."

    Nick

  • "Loved it, thank you to the team for organising and running!!"

    Claire

  • "The Carlsberg event of 2022? Awesome guys and thank you helpers."

    Jeremy

  • "What a cracking Day, 1st time I’ve actually done anything like this and thoroughly enjoyed it. Had booked on the 35km but tagged along with a couple of mates and did the 55km instead.”

    Jason

  • "Bestttttttt day! Thanks so much for organising and to everyone on the course making it a great day out! I’m 100% coming back to do the longer route next time. Thanks all!"

    Nor

  • "Challenging route. Ace support along the route, at the feed stations and at the finish. Great day thank you!"

    Scott

  • "Great day out, my first event and loved it. thanks to everyone involved. See you next year."

    Wayne

  • "I think I'm still coming down from the high of finishing the 75km yesterday."

    Kieran

  • "Thank you ever so much for organise this amazing event! Love it!"

    Pui

  • "Brilliant event, fabulous route, lovely marshalls, the feed stations were on-point and the pasta at the end an added bonus. You even ordered the sunshine for us too! A massive thank you to all those involved in making this such a great day out. See you next year!"

    Lisa

  • "Just want to say a big thank you to everyone involved in organising the event, especially to the friendly marshals who all smiled and gave words of encouragement. I'm absolutely battered now, but enjoyed the ride and will be back next year."

    Alex

  • "Thanks everyone for an amazing day yesterday. Thanks to the organisers and the Marshalls who made it all so easy. Well, easy in that way, it was brutal in others!"

    Kieran

  • "Thanks to the organisers & volunteers for a great day! Fab route, amazing feed stations & lovely people very much appreciated."

    Kim

  • "What an excellently organised and managed event. Thanks for everything. Very enjoyable if brutal in places."

    Stephen

  • "My first event to. Glad I took my mtb, I wouldn’t of made it around on my cx. Back next year loved it!"

    Wayne

  • "Great ride! Thanks!! Hardest one I’ve ever done!"

    Dave

  • "A great ride out! The 35k was fun but 55k is definitely on the cards for team Sports Nutrition!! The feed station was a welcome break and it was well stocked with sports nutrition. My crew all managed the 35k easily on there retro bikes whilst I’m retro enough and took my Giant fathom. Thanks for holding such a well laid out event, see you next year!!"

    Andy

  • "Fantastic 75k route, thanks for a tremendous day and you brought the weather too with wall to wall sunshine. Bagman thank you to you and all the marshalls that made this happen with great support and feed stations!"

    Paul

  • "Great event! Really enjoyed it and everything was super well organised, great marshalls and feed stops. The pasta at the end was a really great idea!"

    John

  • "Great event yesterday. Fantastic organisation, support, marshalling and route! Thanks Bagman!!"

    Christopher

  • "What a brilliant day out. Thanks to the organisers and stewards for putting on an excellent event."

    Jason

  • "Really well organised event. Also, great to have different distance route options."

    Nicholas

Our ride

The routes start and finish at Hartley Farm at the very top of Cheltenham’s iconic Leckhampton Hill and run south in to the heart of the stunning Cotswold Hills. With a mix of country lanes, bridleways, green-lanes, byways and private land you’ll get to see parts of beautiful Gloucestershire few others have experienced. All 3 routes (75km, 55km or 35km) are hilly and good level of fitness is required but our fantastic marshals will be there to support you every inch of the way.

Birdlip, Winstone, Duntisbourne, Edgeworth, Sheepscombe and Coopers Hill are just a few of the famous Cotswold villages we pass through.

75km Long Route Difficulty (1,500M ascent) - 100%0%
55km Medium Route Difficulty (1,000m ascent) - 75%0%
35km Short Route Difficulty (500m ascent) - 50%0%
Percentage of 75km Route Off-road - 50%0%

Information

Suitable for Gravel, XC and MTB bikes only

E-bikes welcome (please ensure your battery will last the course you choose)

Gpx. routing provided

Chip Timing

Route Maps

Personalised rider numbers

Finishers Medal

Free food Stations with food by professional chef El Toro

Fully signed courses

Fully Marshalled

Mechanical Support by Leisure Lakes

Medical Crews

On-site parking at HQ

Raynet Communication Support

Free post ride pasta

Beer for sale at finish by on site Brewery Cotswold Lion

Cotswold Cross 2023 Jersey

Order your Cotswold Cross 2023 Jersey before the end of January to get it in time for the event.

  • Cotswold Cross Jersey 2023
  • Cotswold Cross Jersey 2023
  • cc1
  • cc4
  • cc7
  • cc2
  • cc9
  • cc8
  • cc3
  • cc5
  • cc6

FAQs

What bikes are suitable?

Different parts of the course are better suited to different bikes but Cyclo-Cross, MTB and Gravel bikes will all do the job. The course is not suitable for road bikes.

Are e-bikes welcome?

Absolutely! Please make sure that your battery is capable of seeing you round your chosen course though. There is a fair amount of ascent on all courses so do bear this in mind when assessing your battery life.

Will I be able to complete the course?

The courses are designed to be a challenge but you are more than welcome to swap courses down on your way round if you are struggling or up if you are feeling great. The main thing is that you enjoy the day and get back to HQ safely.

Will I get fed?

Yes you will.  We will be running two fantastic feed stations and also provide you with free post ride pasta when you finish.  All food is prepared by our amazing professional chef.

And if I have special dietry requirements?

El Toro will also supply us with a range of Gluten Free and Vegan options.

What time will I start?

Registration opens at 7.00am but we ask you not to arrive at HQ until 30 minutes before your start time.  Registration is a very quick process and there is no penalty for being late.

Can I ride with my friends?

Of course you can. Please just all arrive 30 minutes before the last allocated start time from your party and you can all go off together – you will not be able to register more than half an hour before you allocated start time.

Where do I park?

There is ample parking at HQ in Farmer Dan’s field. His fields are very free draining and accessible but, in the unlikely scenario that we’ve had very wet weather building up to the event or you’re planning on bringing the Lamborghini, we may ask you to park a couple of miles down the hill in Cheltenham. We will give you plenty of advanced notice if this is the case.

Should I bring cash?

– Yes. Although the Cotswold Cross is not primarily a charity ride we do like to raise funds for our amazing friends at the National Start College who do an incredible job with disabled young adults. We might tap you up for a couple of quid for parking, post ride jet wash and hot drinks at feed stations on their behalf although we do not insist on any payment for facilities on the day. Our on-site brewer will also be selling his delicious ales at the finish with a pound per pint sold going to the NSC.

Can I test the course beforehand?

Unfortunately not. Much of the land we traverse is not usually open to the public and it is only with the specific consent of you lovely landowners that we can ride here on Cotswold Cross day. We ask, therefore, that you please respect their generosity and leave them alone for the rest of the year.

Partners

skratch

“What an awesome ride and fab support – thanks to all. See you next year!”