This year, Stage 8 of the Tour of Britain was supposed to be on the Isle and for the occasion Visit the Isle of Wight gave us a taste of what it’s like to cycle around here. With a great selection of climbs, fantastic view points, good food stops and a dip in the sea - the day did not disappoint.
“Ride the roads before the pros” on The Isle of Wight
85 km | 52.8 mi from Ryde to Yarmouth feat. Ventnor, Brook Bay & the Needles.
Rating > Difficult
Terrain > Rolling Hills
Elevation Gain > 1.050m | 3,444ft
It’s 6am in London and we’re waiting to board the train to Portsmouth, hoping to finish the night we had to interrupt. On the platform is our friend Gareth, we haven’t seen each other for a while and trade sleep for chat instead. Train journeys are a relaxing way to escape the city and watch the countryside scenery pass by.
At Portsmouth we’re delighted to find that the station is connected to the pier and after a short walk we board the Wightlink ferry. It’s a sunny day and it feels like going on holiday.
Tim Wiggins (our host) is waiting in Ryde for us to arrive. He’s planning on showing the group his favourite roads and climbs and we must admit that having a guide is quite special. Tim knows all the hidden quiet lanes, most beautiful views and, last but not least, the best coffee stops and restaurants.
After about 45 km we stop at the beach to take a dip… only up to the knees as we don’t fancy finishing the ride with wet bib shorts, but with the sun beaming down it’s hard to resist.
For lunch, the team booked an awesome restaurant with a huge terrace and a sea view. The table is full of tuna steak, crab and chips. The climb out of town was never going to be easy, and filling up at lunch certainly didn't help.
It doesn’t matter how hard the climbs are because the best views of the day are waiting for us: we’re cycling along the south coast and it’s incredible! The cherry on the cake is the climb to the famous Needles, a row of three stacks of chalk that rise out of the sea.
We end the day at Yarmouth, where the Isle of Wight team treat us to delicious local ice creams before it’s time to leave.
On the ferry to Lymington we’re ecstatic about the day we’ve just had and already start planning the next Moloko Tour. Who’s coming on the 24th of September?
Thank you Visit the Isle of Wight & Tim Wiggins for having us!
Come and ride the IOW with us!
We're organising a Moloko Tour there on the 24th of September. Just book your spot on our website for a great day of cycling.
Disclaimer
All routes are illustrative only and users take full responsibility for their own safety when following any routes suggested on the Moloko Cycling website or app.
Only follow route if safe and legal, local traffic laws always take priority.
Take care to ride safely and respect other road users.
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