CHANGED ON 30th AUGUST TO AVOID ROAD CLOSURE IN MARLOW
80-mile course – two feed stations – Blue signs
All the attractions of the 50-mile course with the added challenge of a loop of the rolling Oxfordshire Plain with its many picturesque villages.
As for the 50-mile route, riders take a gentle climb out of Marlow towards Frieth and Fingest which will ease you in gradually. The first climb of the day is Oxford Road – known as Windmill Hill for obvious reasons. This is the Windmill that featured in the children’s classic film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The bottom of this climb is the toughest, once you’ve completed the first 100 meters you’re past the worst. At the top you are rewarded with fabulous views of the Hambleden Valley and Turville (filming location for many TV shows including Midsomer Murders, Vicar of Dibley, Lewis, Miss Marple, Jonathan Creek).
Now a steady, gradual climb up to the highest point on the route at Stokenchurch followed by an exhilarating, fast descent. Riders now leave the 50-mile route and head right past Aston Rowant turning left at Kingston Blount towards Emmington, Towersey (famous for its Morris Men) skirting the edge of Thame. The route heads out across the rolling Oxfordshire plain, to the first feed station. Once you’ve refuelled, continue the loop across the plain taking in Worminghall, Wheatley, Great Milton (home to Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons ‘restaurant with rooms’), Great & Little Haseley, Chalgrove, Berrick Salmone, and on to Benson and Ewelme. Here you rejoin the 50-mile route and take in the second major climb of the day Swyncombe Hill up to Cookley Green.
From Cookley Green the route heads along the B481 towards Park Corner and Nettlebed, then you will start our new loop for 2024! Through Stoke Row and Nuffield, past Huntercombe Golf Course and then back through Cookley Green to a fabulous 2.5 mile descent through Pishill before you take a sharp left turn onto Balham’s Lane and a gentle climb up to Turville Heath.
From here, another descent on Dolesden Lane and back into Fingest where you will retrace your initial steps to take Frieth Road back down towards Marlow. One last right turn at Platts Garage in Marlow and before you know it you will be back at Marlow Sports Club to enjoy our fabulous post-ride hospitality!
The route may be changed at short notice due to road works and other unforeseen circumstances therefore to be on the safe side we recommend that you leave it as late as possible before downloading. In any event, we will have plenty of signage and marshals en route.