19th June 2025
The day dawned bright on Sunday morning at 6am when we arrived to set up the first Thame Cycling Sportive.
Soon after 7am, the first riders were pedalling in to register for the event – the first of over 700 riders on the day.
By 8am, the first of the riders set off on the two long courses – an 80km (50 mile) intermediate ride and a 130km (78m) ride up and down the hills of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.
By 11am Mayor Andy Gilbert and Deputy David Dawson were tipping buckets of yellow ducks off of the Old Crendon Bridge along with the Thame Round Tablers and 1,500 or so fellow Duck Racers.
Back to the Town Hall for 1pm for the start of the Family Bike Ride. 13km along the Phoenix Trail, past Towersey and looping back on Manor Lane, through Towersey village and back to Thame.
With so many riders and 3 routes, this was a major logistical exercise and we are indebted to Jeremy and Clare from Thame Cycles, Thame Cycling Club and Thame Town Council for their help in making it happen. Thanks also to our sponsors, the ever-supportive ASM and Thame Cars, and to David White at Cotmore Farm and Miles Podmore at Windles for facilitating a safe route for families, thus avoiding the busy bypass. Thanks also to all the hard working café, bakery and concession vendors who contributed to a truly memorable day for Thame and its visitors.
Check out Rubicon Drones' video of the Sportive on Facebook.
