ACTIVE OUTDOORS: 10 years of the Etape Loch Ness as thousands enjoy cycle event
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It’s hard to believe a whole decade has passed since the inaugural Etape Loch Ness first took place on closed roads in the Great Glen.
I remember the excitement of being able to tackle this route free of motorised traffic, especially on the A82 trunk road that is not a place for your average rider to spend much time.
That remains one of the key aspects of the event that keeps me coming back year after year, getting the chance to safely negotiate this road by bike. The other is the great atmosphere, not only as you cycle around and chat to fellow participants but also through the whole weekend in Inverness.
The city becomes awash with bikes as people travel to the Highland capital from far and wide, all of them in anticipation of completing the 66-mile circuit down the A82 to Fort Augustus then up the intimidating climb to the Suidhe viewpoint before the long ride through Foyers, Inverfarigaig and Dores and back into Inverness.
Some have been here before or know the roads, but every year there are new visitors who are here because this is Loch Ness. Its worldwide popularity means for those who cycle, this event really is a bucket-list adventure.
It’s easy to forget that when it’s on your doorstep and you just have to roll the couple of miles to the start line after an unwelcome 4.30am alarm call. The event’s 6am start is perhaps the only downside, although it does mean you can be back in Inverness by mid-morning having completed this epic ride.
After the finish of the 10th staging of the event on Sunday, some of the 21 people who have completed all 10 of the Etapes gathered on the podium for a photo. I was sorry not to be among them, to be honest. I’ve completed nine of the 10 events, having taken a year out after my youngest was born.
Still, it means I know the course inside out, which is a real benefit, especially when it comes to the climb out of Fort Augustus. I’ve heard many a groan from visiting cyclists who turn a corner and see the next section of the climb rearing up before them, so knowing what to expect here is good – even if it is a seemingly never-ending ascent!
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On Sunday I just kept my head down and kept the wheels turning on the climb, knowing that I would get up there in my usual time. My relative King of the Mountain position is always better than my finishing position, and that proved the case again this year.
Despite the freezing temperatures early on Sunday, the conditions were otherwise perfect, with light winds and even some sunshine bursting through the clouds as we pedalled along. It really was picture perfect, but this is one bike ride I don’t stop every five minutes to take photographs!
The Etape Loch Ness has come a long way from those early days, when the number of entrants was in the hundreds rather than the thousands. It has proved itself to be a well-organised and thoroughly enjoyable experience, certainly for those taking part and I hope for many in the communities around the loch who come out and support the riders.
Their support and that of the hundreds of volunteers on the course is truly appreciated. Some encouraging words or a friendly cheer can go a long way when you are feeling the pain.
I certainly felt that in the last 10 or 15 miles, as I was starting to fade – perhaps my lack of training kicking in. It turns out that relying on three-mile commutes by bike as the bulk of the so-called training regime isn’t really enough to sustain you over more than 60 miles on a seriously hilly route!
However, I was pleased with my finishing time of just over 4 hours 10 minutes – even if it wasn’t under the four hours I was hoping for – and 37 minutes 8 seconds on the King of the Mountain stage.
The event hub this year returned to its original base outside Eden Court Theatre, and there was a wonderful atmosphere as the riders came in. The Harry Gow sausage rolls and dream ring were a welcome treat for the cyclists at the finish line, along with the medal, buff and bottle, and a can of Erdinger alcohol-free beer.
As the riders disperse and the roads reopen and return to normal, I always wish they could stay cycle-friendly for a little while longer. But I’ll be back next year for the 11th Etape Loch Ness when we can do it all over again – and enjoy sharing the experience of our beautiful region with more people keen to tackle this phenomenal event.
Route details
Etape Loch Ness 10th anniversary edition
Distance 66 miles / 106 km
Terrain Closed-road sportive
Start/finish Inverness
Map OS Landranger 26
The popular closed-road cycle sportive around Loch Ness celebrated its 10th anniversary with another successful event
Click here to see the route in OS Maps
