The Lapierre Cheshire Cobbled Classic is an extremely tough 160 km (100-mile) sportive that is inspired by the Tour of Flanders - the Belgian one-day Classic. 

It features twelve cobbled sectors, including five cobbled climbs that exceed 20% in gradient. The most notable of these is the frighteningly steep Corkscrew, a twisting, snaking cobbled road whose 45% maximum gradient makes it the steepest climb in the country.

There is also a long flat cobbled sector (something of a rarity in England), which, even more unusually, is surfaced with round cobbles rather than the more common square cobblestones or ‘setts’.

The eastern half of the Cheshire Cobbled Classic is located within the Peak District National Park and takes in the spectacular Goyt Valley and the Fernilee and Errwood reservoirs. The route contains a significant amount of climbing – roughly 1600m in total – and the event builds to a climax with a series of cobbled climbs, including the iconic Swiss Hill, a 25% cobbled climb in Alderley Edge, which is used by Team Sky to prepare specifically for the Tour of Flanders. 

The event will have a Belgian theme, with a variety of Belgian foods, chocolates, and a glass of Belgian beer for every finisher. Feed stations, a broom wagon and medical support will be provided. All of the roads used on the route are relatively traffic-free.

The event is sponsored by Lapierre and organised by Cycle Classics, who organize the Tour of the Black Country, a Paris-Roubaix-inspired sportive featuring 19 unpaved sectors and a velodrome finish, and the Strade-Bianche-themed White Roads Classic which features 11 white gravel/chalk sectors.

Info for Riders

The ‘Cheshire Cobbled Classic’ is an extremely tough 160 km (100-mile) sportive that is inspired by the Tour of Flanders - the Belgian one-day Classic. It features twelve cobbled sectors, including five cobbled climbs that exceed 20% in gradient. The most notable of these is the frighteningly steep Corkscrew, a twisting, snaking cobbled road whose 45% maximum gradient makes it the steepest climb in the country. The eastern half of the Cheshire Cobbled Classic is located within the Peak District National Park and takes in the spectacular Goyt Valley and the Fernilee and Errwood reservoirs. The route contains a significant amount of climbing – roughly 2900m in total – and the event builds to a climax on the iconic Swiss Hill, a 25% cobbled climb in Alderley Edge, which is used by Team Sky to prepare specifically for the Tour of Flanders. The event will have a Belgian theme, with a variety of Belgian foods, chocolates, and a glass of Belgian beer for every finisher.