This year we supported, took part and even won a few of the finest events of 2015! So we’re better qualified than most to offer our SplashMaps’ Top 10 Cycling, Tri and Ultra events of 2015. Here they are!
1) Tour of Britain
2) Glen Coe Skyline Ultra -Salomon
3) Three Forts Ultra, South Downs – TEAM SPLASHMAPS WINS!
4) Race to the Stones Ultra
5) Thames Trot – Go Beyond Ultra – TEAM SPLASHMAPS SILVER!
6) Transvulcania Ultra, La Palma Island
7) Eroica Britania, Peak District
8) The Maverick, Midhurst, Sussex – TEAM SPLASHMAPS WINS!
9) Bear Grylls Survival Race, Trent Park, North London
10) The ITU World Triathlon, London in Hyde Park
This year, thanks to Team SplashMaps’ Ultra runner, Scott Forbes, we’re more two legged than two wheeled. Still check out what came out number one? How did we judge? It’s subjective, but hey… we were there! For SplashMaps it’s all about participant engagement, challenge, inclusiveness (yes, I bet those don’t often go together) and perhaps another factor of “we’d ask our friends to come to the next one of these!”
1) Tour of Britain – SplashMaps took a stand in London’s Trafalgar Square to close out the final stage of this spectacular 2 week tour. It was the ideal spot to soak up the atmosphere of a huge international sporting event and the excitement of the international crowd there to cheer them all on! – The stage’s landmarks are highlighted in our SplashMaps Illustrated London Map.
2) Glen Coe Skyline – 32miles – in a stunning part of Scotland. Reputably the world’s most technical sky race in the Ultra marathon series as there is so much vertical scrambling involved. Our man, Scott Forbes, took part and reported it to be the toughest thing he’s ever done in his life. Find out more here. – SplashMaps’ Scottish Maps are extensive
3) The Three Forts Ultra Race, South Downs – Scott won this, which may influence our rating a little (and made for a great finish-line shot!), however you simply can’t beat a race that takes in the beauty of our Southern landscape. – SplashMap – South Downs Central East.
4) Threshold’s Race to the Stones – This 100km race along the Ridgeway (Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire) tested our Ultra man to the limit. Though illness prevented him getting beyond the half way point, the event rates high as it’s always so well organised and fabulously attended given the distances covered. Look out for their new Race to the King South Downs Way race in 2016. – SplashMaps Harvey Ridgeway and SplashMaps Harvey South Downs Way cover both races.
5) Thames Trot, Go Beyond Ultra – Certainly the muddiest of all the races Scott entered for SplashMaps this year. Second place was a great result over the 50km challenge. The weight of the sludge the runners had to carry on that soggy February morning helped to stretch-out the field.
6) Transvulcania Ultra, La Palma Island – Scott is building up to this one in 2016. It’s the Granddaddy of Ultra’s and qualifies (like the Glen Coe) as a Skyline event. The breathtaking climbs and terrain demand huge technical skill on top of the pre-requisite super-human stamina. Prepare your map!
7) Eroica Britania, Peak District – The reports of the events in 2015 show this festival of the pre-1986 framed bicycle is growing and growing. Hipsters and Chaps emerge from the four corners of the globe to test their vintage cycles on three distance circulars in the most scenic of National Parks. We’re hoping to have a stand at the 2016 to soak up the best excuse for a festival all year! SplashMaps Peak District Maps.
8) The Maverick, Midhurst, Sussex – Another Gold for SplashMaps’ Scott Forbes this year! The event starts and ends in the near-regal setting of Cowdray House, takes in a range of landscapes and is a great family affair offering 3 routes (including the Ultra that Scott won). SplashMap South Downs Central West
9) Bear Grylls Survival Race, Trent Park, North London – Bear hosted this event from the start line, right behind our stand. SplashMaps entered a 3 man team into the challenge which tested us over walls of fire, weights of torture and through the mud. We definitely learned a lot about ourselves – even if we didn’t break any records. The associated festival has yet to find its feet.
10) The ITU World Triathlon, London in Hyde Park. The Olympic spirit seemed to return for the 3 days in May, even if the weather didn’t and I developed an allurgy to the Pain trees of the Royal Parks. The heroic athletes in this young sport were warm hearted and strong spirited despite the murkiness of the Serpentine river. SplashMaps AtoZ London can help you prepare
So those are SplashMaps’ Top 10 Cycling, Tri and Ultra events of 2015, in an exhausting and exhilarating and winning year! Did we miss your favourite? We’ve loved supporting all these events in 2015 and we wish all of you a happy but challenge filled 2016!
