WACE (World Association of Cycling Events) is an association of cycling events formed to promote and increase cycling around the world.

The Association was formed in Rome on 24 July 2015, and the chartered members of the Association are five of the most prestigious and largest mass participation events in the world: Cape Town Cycle Tour (Cape Town – South Africa), the biggest timed cycle event in the world, TD Five Boro Bike Tour (United States), 32,000 riders on closed roads in New York City, Vatternunrnad (Motala – Sweden), 300 km and over 20,000 participants for one of the longest and oldest mass participation event in the world, RideLondon (United Kingdom), the world's largest cycling festival with more than 95,000 participants and Gran Fondo Campagnolo Roma (Italy), a cycling experience in the Eternal City.

WACE has been formed to promote and increase cycling worldwide. With more than 200,000 participants from 90 countries riding in WACE events each year, the new organisation is ideally placed to inspire new riders to take up the challenge of cycling and to encourage riders to travel to participate in other world class cycling events. More major international cycling events are set to join WACE in the future.

Mass participation cycling events are more popular than ever before and by promoting our events internationally we are looking to inspire new riders to take up the WACE challenge. Cycling in WACE events brings health and physical benefits, a better lifestyle, social opportunities to meet new people and the chance to experience cities such as Cape Town, London, New York and Rome or to ride in the French Alps and in the Swedish lakes region.

Structure of WACE

President: Hugh Brasher   

Vice president: Gianluca Santilli   

Vice President: Ulrika Smith Svenstedt 

Board Member: David Bellairs   

Board Member: Andrew Gould   

Board Member: Mathieu Boutroux  

Executive Director: Matteo Gerevini   –  [email protected]

The Events

THE CAPE TOWN CYCLE TOUR

The Cape Town Cycle Tour is the largest timed cycling event in the world.  Attracting in excess of 35,000 cyclists from around the globe each year, this iconic event is definitely a unique experience for participants and spectators alike.

Based in Cape Town – South Africa, the 109km Cycle Tour route runs through some of the world's most spectacular scenery that includes the iconic Table Mountain as a backdrop. Starting in the City Centre the route makes its way down the Blue Route leading into Simon's Town then turning at Smitswinkel and heading back along the coastline before the steady climb up Chapman's Peak and finally the short, steep hill of Suikerbossie.  The downhill to the finish in Green Point is a welcome respite for the weary cyclist.

There are approximately 14 refreshment stations and 13 medical points along the route. A team of at least 2500 volunteers from a variety of charitable organisations ensures that all operations run smoothly and efficiently on the day.  A carnival incorporating hospitality tents, entertainment and guaranteed fun awaits the cyclists, their families and friends at the Green Point Finish Hospitality Village.

The Cape Town Cycle Tour forms part of a Lifecycle Week of activities that includes an event for juniors (0-12 years), the largest health & lifestyle Expo (3 days / 75 000 visitors) and two days of mountain biking in the winelands.

The Cape Town Cycle Tour injects some R500 million into the Western Cape economy every year, but even more significant is the millions it raises for charity and the impact this has on the needy both regionally and beyond. The main beneficiaries of the Cycle Tour are the Pedal Power Association (PPA) and Rotary Club of Claremont, which are equal stakeholders in the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust, the organisers of the annual event.  Rotary and the PPA share around R9 million of the proceeds between them, thanks to those who participate in this iconic event.

The PPA and the Rotary Club of Claremont plough these funds back into numerous organisations in local communities, including schools; children's homes; skills development programmes and cycling development projects.

Website: www.cycletour.co.za

THE TD FIVE BORO BIKE TOUR

The TD Five Boro Bike Tour is America's largest charitable bike ride and one of the largest cycling events in the world. On the first Sunday in May, 32,000 cyclists of all skill levels roll through every borough of New York City on 40 miles (64 km) of streets totally free of cars. Simply put, since the event began in 1977— when it was called the Five Boro Challenge, had about 250 participants, and cost $1—it's been the best way for residents and visitors alike to experience the Big Apple.

 The Tour kicks off in Downtown Manhattan, from where riders head north through the heart of iconic Central Park, into Harlem and The Bronx before returning south along the East River. From there, they ride over the Queensboro Bridge into Queens, where they shoot up to the big Astoria Park Rest Area, dive down into Brooklyn, and cross New York Harbor to Staten Island. 

There, the celebration continues at a Finish Festival, complete with music, food, vendors and fun in the sun. Highlights of the ride, aside from the vibrant boroughs themselves and the live musical entertainment along the route, include the FDR Drive, the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, all three of which are closed to bicyclists during the rest of the year.

On the two days prior to the event, participants attend Bike Expo New York, the biggest consumer bicycle show in North America, to collect their rider packets and browse more than 100 exhibitor booths featuring the latest in bike products from big brands and local innovators alike.

Both events are produced by Bike New York, a nonprofit organization that is New York City's leading proponent of cycling as a practical, sustainable, and healthy means of transportation and recreation. All proceeds from the event fund Bike New York's free bicycle education programs, which have taught bike skills to tens of thousands of kids and adults throughout the five boroughs. It's the largest program of its kind in America and was cited by Bicycling as one reason the magazine named New York City the #1 Biking City in America for 2014.

Website: www.bike.nyc/events/td-five-boro-bike-tour

VÄTTERNRUNDAN

Since 1966 Vätternrundan has been carried out every year in the month of June. That time of year many consider the most beautiful in Sweden. Through the years Vätternrundan has rounded Sweden's second largest lake 530,000 times and the 300 km is now legendary.

Vätternrundan is considered a great challenge and the interest is high. About 23,000 people will be able to enroll, but that is the limits due to security and the goal to be able to maintaine the high quality that the approximately 4000 volunteers deliver. 

By training and preparing for the race the participants not only improve their fitness and feel better, they also expose themselves to a great challenge that is a major achievement to execute.

The race is attractive and will be will be filled very quickly, it is many cyclists great goal every year. 2015 Vätternrundan was filled in just over a minute!

In 2015 Vätternrundan turned 50 and three riders have completed all 50 editions. About 50 nations are represented in the race and participants from Germany, Norway and Denmark are the majority. Approximately 15% of the participants are women.

Along the path there are nine depots where food, drink, service assistance, massages, first aid, etc is offered.

The ride extends over a period of about 29 hours and most of the starts are at night. This provides opportunities for amazing experiences that nature offers, sunset, sunrise, mists over lake Vättern, smells and visual impressions during the early morning hours that rarely can be experienced if you don't cycle Vätternrundan.

Through the years, the organisation has evolved and today also arrange Tjejvättern,Halvvättern and Minivättern.

Tjejvättern only has women participants and gather each year about 6000 cyclists, the course measures 100 kilometers.

Halvvättern has about 40% women and 60% men in the line-up, a total of approximately 7000 participates, the course stretches over 150 km.

Mini Vättern is the race for all children between six and ten years.

During 2016, a mountain bike race MTB-Vättern will be introduced and overall we expect to welcome about 37 000 participants and about as many companions to Motala!

Website: www.vatternrundan.se

RIDELONDON FESTIVAL OF CYCLING

RideLondon is the world's greatest festival of cycling with more than 95,000 riders participating in five different events on traffic-free roads in London and Surrey over a summer weekend.

The event was created by the Mayor of London and first held in 2013 as part of the legacy from the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The festival comprises five events ranging from the family-friendly FreeCycle through central London for cyclists of all ages and abilities, pro races for men, women, youths and handcyclists to the mass participation 100-mile sportive, RideLondon-Surrey 100.

RideLondon-Surrey 100 sees more than 25,000 amateur cyclists take on a cycling challenge like no other through London and Surrey on a similar route to that of the London 2012 Olympic Road Cycling Races. It starts in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, goes out through London to Surrey's stunning country roads and hills before returning to the capital to finish in spectacular style on The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace.

As well as the opportunity to take on a personal challenge, participants' involvement benefit good causes with thousands riding for charity. More than £10 million was raised in 2014, a record for a UK one-day cycling event. There's also a Peloton Relay for teams of four and a British Cycling Club Challenge.

The online application system for the ballot for next year's event is at www.RideLondon.co.uk The ballot closes on Friday 8 January 2016 or when 100,000 applications have been received.

RideLondon FreeCycle, offers the chance for all the family to enjoy a traffic-free route on closed roads through central London passing some of the capital's most iconic landmarks. Everyone is welcome, no matter what their age or ability. Cyclists may cycle at any pace and as many times round the route as they like, stopping along the way to enjoy a range of free bike-based entertainment and activities at Festival Zones. 

Cyclists are encouraged to register in advance at

www.RideLondon.co.uk/FreeCycle

The other three events in the event are:

RideLondon Grand Prix showcases professional women's cycle racing in the UK's biggest women's race which has been awarded UCI WorldTour status for 2016. The event is televised live on BBC TV.

RideLondon Handcycle Classic features a field of thirty top handcyclists racing over a 15 mile route, starting from Kingston upon Thames and finishing in The Mall, St James's Park.

RideLondon-Surrey Classic sees 150 of the world's top male cyclists starting from Horse Guards Parade in central London and racing over much of the same route as the RideLondon-Surrey 100, with extended circuits of testing terrain to meet international race requirements. Live coverage of the race is shown on BBC TV and distributed internationally.

Website: www.prudentialridelondon.co.uk

THE GRANFONDO CAMPAGNOLO ROMA

The Granfondo Campagnolo Roma is an event for everyone: amateurs, experienced cyclists, enthusiasts of all ages, novices, fans, those who want to learn to ride, families who dream of taking on the best climbs, those who have never cycled and would like to give it a try.

The Granfondo Campagnolo Roma is not merely a cycling race. It is an event, where the competition is only one element of a weekend dedicated to cycling culture in all its facets. A competitive event, albeit amateur, joins a fun cycle, a vintage ride and other small and large events organised within a real “bicycle village”.

The race takes place on October 8, 2017, preceded by two days of events at the Campagnolo Roma village, set against the backdrop of the Baths of Caracalla. The race will start from Via dei Fori Imperiali at 7.15 am, with access from 6.00 am.

The main event, the Granfondo, is open to all current members of the Italian Cycling Federation (FCI) or sports promotion bodies. All riders must possess a medical certificate for the practice of competitive cycling. Foreign cyclists must present a club membership card that is recognized by the UCI.

Professional and Elite athletes are allowed to participate for promotional purposes only and at the invitation of the organisers. Former Elite athletes can participate, but with very specific constraints, specified in the regulations.

“In Bici ai Castelli”, however, is open to everybody, including non-members of the Federation. A valid medical certificate attesting to the good health of the rider is still required. Any type of bicycle can be used to participate in this event.

In the Granfondo and “In Bici ai Castelli” e-bikes are permitted: cyclists riding e-bikes are admitted as cycle-tourists. Each cyclist is required to comply with the rules of the road along the mandatory route.

The Granfondo Campagnolo takes place in Rome and surroundings along a 77 miles route, with 6,560 ft elevation gain: cyclists will ride through history, through the magnificent scenery of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. The peloton then passes Piazza Venezia, the Vittorio Emanuele Monument, the Capitol, Circus Maximus and Appia Antica, which leads out of town. At that point cyclists will discover the beautiful landscape of the Castelli Romani and Lake Albano which reflects the summer residence of the Pope in its waters, before returning to Rome and the Baths of Caracalla.

The “In Bici ai Castelli” event is an easy route to Lake Albano by bike: it's a fun cycle of 60 km.

Rome, a great capital, rich in history and monuments, has its own cycling festival. Granfondo Campagnolo and its events will be a day out, meeting lots of people, getting to know the bike world, discovering and appreciating Rome and its surroundings, demonstrating that cycling is an extraordinary way to promote quality of life in this big city.

One of the most important new elements of this edition of the Granfondo Campagnolo Roma is the idea of the “Imperiale Roma”, for all historic cycling fans. The cycle is reserved for pre-1987 bikes and cyclists wearing vintage gear. It will cover the same route as In Bici ai Castelli, from Rome to Albano and back, but with an exciting difference: the last part runs along the Ancient Appian Way, on the same route that was once used by the Giro del Lazio professional race.