Modelled on the epic ‘Paris-Roubaix’ professional race, the Tour of the Black Country sportive includes 14 gravel and cobbled sectors, varying in length from 600m to 1800m, all of which are passable on a standard road bike. Returning to its original format in 2018, with the original organising team, it is roughly 120 km long, taking in 22km of cobbled roads, stony farm tracks and gravel bridleways in the West Midlands, Worcestershire, Shropshire and Staffordshire. Each gravel and cobbled sector is rated according to difficulty; one star being the most straightforward, five stars being the most difficult. Many of the roads are virtually traffic-free, despite being located close to Birmingham, and the majority of the unpaved sectors are closed to all traffic. The route finishes, as does Paris-Roubaix, on a large outdoor velodrome, at Aldersley Stadium on the outskirts of Wolverhampton. 

High-speed sign-on, HIGH5 feed station, mobile mechanics, broom wagon, medical support vehicles. The Tour of the Black Country will be held on Sunday 9 June 2019, starting at 0900. Entries priced at £29. 

Info for Riders

The Tour of the Black Country is 120km long and takes in 22km of cobbled roads, stony farm tracks and bridleways in the West Midlands and Worcestershire. Modelled on the epic European Classic ‘Paris-Roubaix’, it includes 14 unpaved sectors, varying in length from 600m to 1800m (all of which are passable on a standard road bike) and finishes, as does Paris-Roubaix on a large outdoor velodrome at Aldersley on the outskirts of Wolverhampton. The Tour of the Black Country would normally be graded '2', based on the distance and the amount of climbing but given the difficulty of some of the unpaved sectors, a rating of '4' is more realistic. As with any unpaved roads, there is a slightly increased risk of punctures, but mobile mechanics will be on-hand to sort out any technical problems. A broom wagon will also be provided. HIGH5 feed station. Indoor changing rooms, showers and plentiful car parking are available at the venue.