No Excuses - Midlands

Uttoxeter Racecourse, ST14 8BD.

This rolling early season event is the perfect way to wake up those winter legs, and help support aour official charity partner, Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Not only will you travel parts of the historic Staffordshire and Leicester shire countryside, but we’ll also take you on a well-rounded tour of the area, with an opportunity to ride happily in the knowledge that your miles will be making a difference.

Starting from Uttoxeter Racecourse, one of Britain’s leading national hunt tracks, you’ll ride south towards our first landmark of Blithfield Reservoir, with glorious views across the water on a clear day. From here, head eastwards to the towns of Yoxall and Barton-under-Needwood, with its Tudor Grade II-listed church.

Riders following the short route will take a northerly heading towards Needwood forest before returning to the racecourse where the welcome of the finish line awaits. Standard and epic riders continue east, taking in views as you cross the River Trent, Britain’s third longest river, before the route meanders south, crossing the River Mease for the first time.

Here, the route splits for the final time, with our standard route turning back northwards towards home, with enough distance spare to welcome the first sights of spring as you trace the fringes of the iconic National Forest on the journey.

Epic riders will continue to travel south as far as Twycross, where they will also turn their attention northwards passing through the National Forest and Needwood Forest on the way home for a well-earned medal and all for a good cause!

Epic: 83-miles

Standard: 64-miles