I didn’t tell you this, but I signed up for the Maratona gran fondo in Italy a few weeks back. They have a lottery system and my number didn’t come up. Disappointed, but undeterred, I waited around for something else ‘epic’ to fall in my lap. Thanks (in a roundabout way) to Chikashi, I have found it.

The pro version of this race is the biggest cycling event in Holland and part of ‘Ardennes Week’, which happens after the big Belgian races in early April. This ‘tour version’ is a timed sportive, and has a whole bunch of different distances to choose from, peaking at the same 250 km as the pros use. I opted for 200 km because I’m not a complete maniac. But I could be convinced to up it if you join my team!

Yes, I created a ‘Vicious Cycle‘ team when I registered. If anyone out there wants to join up, just click on the banner above and enter your details. It’s a lottery, too, by the way, so you’ll have to wait till January to find out if you’re ‘lucky’ enough to go and haul your carcass over the never-ending hills of southern Holland.

The event is conveniently being held on Easter weekend, which helps (me at least) with logistics. It’s also sponsored by a brewery, so I’m looking forward to the goodies bag.