Cyclists, workplace teams and businesses are being invited to saddle up for Willen Hospice’s Cycle Sportive 2026, with entries now open for the annual fundraising event.
Taking place on Sunday 6 September, the sportive starts and finishes at The Good Gym in Milton Keynes and offers fully supported 37, 65 and 100-mile routes through the Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire countryside.
Designed for cyclists of all abilities, the event offers the chance to take on a personal challenge, encourage colleagues to get active together and raise vital funds for Willen Hospice’s free care and support for local people living with life-limiting illness.
Each route includes feed and water stations, support vehicles and a finisher’s medal, with refreshments available at the finish.
Advance entry costs £35 per person, rising to £40 on the day. Participants are encouraged to raise a minimum of £75 in sponsorship. A new £100 self-funded ticket option has also been introduced for those who wish to take part without a fundraising commitment.
Roger, from Buckingham, is preparing to ride the event for the seventh time.
“This will be my seventh time participating in this very well organised event and I love it,” he said. “The atmosphere on the day is always fantastic but it’s not just about the cycling. It’s about being part of a community united by a common purpose: to support an important local cause.”
Nikki Poole, Community Fundraising and Events Manager at Willen Hospice, said: “Cycle Sportive has become a real highlight in our events calendar because it brings the local cycling community together for one incredible day to champion our vital work. Whether you’re taking on your first-ever cycling challenge or pushing yourself to complete 100 miles, every single rider helps make a difference for local families who are relying on the Hospice’s expert care and support.”
As well as welcoming individual riders, the event provides an opportunity for businesses to encourage employee wellbeing, strengthen team spirit and support a local charity that relies heavily on fundraising to continue delivering its specialist care.
This year’s Cycle Sportive will also honour the contribution of dedicated volunteer Preston Ayres, who planned and mapped the event’s routes for the past eight years and sadly passed away recently.
To choose a route and book a place, visit willen-hospice.org.uk/cycle-sportive.
