An additional 200 coveted places for the inaugural Etape Loch Ness cycling sportive are being released. Cyclists will be able to apply for one of the sought-after slots from noon on Tuesday (February 11, 2014) and it is anticipated they will sell out very quickly.
Entries for the Etape Loch Ness opened in November and, due to unprecedented demand, all 1,000 spaces were claimed within a matter of hours. Event organisers Caledonian Concepts have been working with a number of agencies since that time and now have sanction to release a very limited number of additional entries.
The sportive takes place on May 4, 2014 and will follow a 67-mile route around the stunning scenery of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. It will start and finish in central Inverness and participants will be able to enjoy the route on traffic-free roads.
Those who have signed up to receive e-news alerts from the Etape Loch Ness website will be sent an email in advance of the places going on sale. This email will contain a link which will give access to the entry page: this will be the only method of entry.
All cyclists who enter in the latest wave will be encouraged to raise a minimum of £100 for Macmillan Cancer Support – the official charity being supported by Etape Loch Ness.
Event director Malcolm Sutherland of Caledonian Concepts says, “The speed at which the initial places sold out took us completely by surprise. We always knew that it would be a popular event – our years of experience in organising large-scale sporting events indicated that there would be significant demand – but we never expected it to capture the imagination of people in the way that it did.
“All of the places will be made available to participants who give an undertaking to fund-raise on behalf of Macmillan Cancer Support. We ask that people raise a minimum of £100 for this charity, which supports people with cancer and their families across the Highlands and the rest of the UK.
“I can confidently say that no further places will be released for the 2014 event, however we feel there is now clear evidence to show that Etape Loch Ness will need to grow in future in order to accommodate the level of demand.”
The 360° route around Loch Ness takes in the north side of the loch, first passing through Drumnadrochit, Invermoriston and Fort Augustus before looping round to the southern side.
Further information about Etape Loch Ness is available at www.etapelochness.com and regular updates will appear on social media through Facebook www.facebook.com/etapelochness and Twitter @EtapeLochNess