You must be at least 14 years of age to participate in the Pilgrims Hospices Cycle Challenge and riders under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a participating adult.

• Early Bird entry: £30 (closes 12/03/23)
• Standard entry: £35 (closes 23/04/23)
• On the day entry: £45

Entry to this fully supported event includes:

• Pre-event pack
• Regular rest stops with drinks and snacks
• Bike mechanic support
• Fully signed route
• Free training app
• Event medical support
• Recovery vehicles
• Post-ride massage
• Finisher medal

Much of the entry fee goes towards running the event and making sure that you have an enjoyable and safe experience. We’d love you to raise sponsorship for your challenge (after all, it’s no easy feat to cycle all that way). Or, if you'd rather not ask your friends and family to sponsor you, we hope you might consider making a personal donation towards the care we provide. This can be done during the online registration process or at any time on our website, at our hospices in Ashford, Canterbury or Margate, or on the day of the event.

It costs Pilgrims Hospices just over £7,400 per day to care for our inpatients at each of our hospices, and events like these help us to continue caring for local people as they near end of life. Please download a sponsorship form and set up your own online fundraising page with Just Giving.  Don’t forget to encourage your sponsors to tick the Gift Aid box if they’re eligible to do so; for every £1 donated, we’ll be able to claim an extra 25p from the Government at no cost to you or your sponsors. It makes a huge difference.

All ride distances will begin from the start / finish HQ at the Sports Pavilion, University of Kent, Canterbury Kent CT2 7SR. 

Please arrive during the allocated start window communicated to you to avoid unnecessary congestion at the start venue. If you arrive outside of this time, you may be unable to enter the venue. 

Ample free parking for event participants is available at the Giles Lane Car Park.

At the start, a dedicated drop-off zone will be available in the Sibson car park, which will be marshalled.

If arriving by train, Canterbury West station is 1.8 miles, and Canterbury East station is 2.6 miles from the start venue.

You will be allocated a designated 30-minute check-in window and start wave, during which you should aim to arrive at the start venue. Your start wave will be allocated based on your challenge distance chosen when you signed up for the event. Please note that arriving outside of your designated start wave could mean you are unable to enter the venue and delay your start.

The start waves are as follows:

125-mile and 100-mile route riders

Start wave A: check in between 07:30 – 08:00hrs (no earlier please!)
Start wave B: check in between 08:00 – 08:30hrs 

75-mile route riders

Start wave C: check in between 08:30 – 09:00hrs 
Start wave D: check in between 09:00 – 09:30hrs 

50-mile and 30-mile route riders

Start wave E: check in between 09:30 – 10:00hrs 
Start wave F: check in between 10:00 – 10:30hrs 
Start wave G: check in between 10:30 – 11:00hrs 

3 weeks before the event, you will receive a posted participant pack to your address containing all the information you need to prepare for your challenge. Inside you'll find your unique rider number to attach to your bike's handlebar using the cable ties provided, sponsorship form, and arrival information. Please affix your rider number to the bike’s handlebar so that it is clearly readable from ahead.

On arrival please give your name to the registration desk volunteer who will check you in.

Even if you've registered in advance, you'll still need to check in with our registration team.

Please note: You must bring your helmet with you to the registration desk. No helmet, no ride.

On the day registrations

If you haven't registered in advance for the ride you'll need to visit the 'on the day' registration marquee. On the day entry is £45 and registration closes at 10:30am.

Ride completion

All riders must have completed the ride and checked back in by 6:30pm. 

No, we have chosen a Sunday because the roads should be a little quieter when you first set off.  We use minor roads wherever possible although there are a few busier sections. We advise all participants to observe the Highway Code at all times and take special care when navigating junctions.

The routes for Pilgrims Hospices Cycle Challenge 2023 are:

• The Epic: 125 miles - View map
• The Century: 100 miles – View map
• The Challenge: 75 miles – View map
• The Classic: 50 miles – View map
• The Circuit: 30 miles - View map

You can also view route maps from your smartphone with the Pilgrims Hospices Event App, available on the App Store for Apple devices and Google Play for Android.

You can download your chosen route onto your Garmin or other GPS-enabled cycle computer as a TCX file in order to follow the route turn-by-turn. Simply visit the online map link above and click on the TCX file type next to 'Export to device'.

Yes, we will have bright orange way-markers all along each route and there will be a downloadable map for you to use in advance of the ride.

You can also download the Pilgrims Hospices Event App for free so that you have all the route information in one place on your smartphone. Never feel lost again with GPS tracking that shows you if you have gone off course.

The Pilgrims Hospices Event App is available for iOS and Android devices:

App Store

Google Play

East Kent has a fantastic variety of terrain and our rides aim to showcase this as much as possible. This inevitably means there are a few uphill challenges for you to conquer - but remember, this is not a race and it is perfectly acceptable to take your time and even walk up the hills!

We've introduced a flatter 30-mile route option, meaning you can enjoy exploring the Kent countryside without sweating up so many hills.

For those looking to take their ride up a gear, we see the return of the notorious Stowting Hill in all routes except for the 30 mile.

There will be a bike mechanic available at each feed station to help with any bike problems. Our advice is to make sure you have your bike serviced before you take part in the event and to carry with you a small pump, inner tube and puncture repair kit.

If you have any health concerns please consult your GP before taking part. It's recommended that you're able to ride at least 75% of the course distance comfortably beforehand. If there is a medical emergency you should call 999. The emergency services are aware that the event is taking place.

There will be refreshments available on route at various rest stops at approximately 20-mile intervals. The Classic route is serviced by rest stops 1 and 2. The Challenge route is serviced by rest stops 1, 2 and 4. The Century route is serviced by rest stops 1, 2, 3 and 4.

• Rest stop 1 (at 18.5 miles on all routes): Ashford Hospice
• Rest stop 2 (at 36.5 miles into the EPIC route): Ivychurch Village Hall
• Rest stop 3 (at 60.5 miles into the EPIC route and 36 miles into all other routes): Biketart, Breach
• Rest stop 4 (at 85 miles into the EPIC route and 61 miles into the CENTURY): St Margaret's at Cliffe Village Hall
• Rest stop 5 (at 110 miles into the EPIC route, 85 miles into the CENTURY and 60 miles into the CHALLENGE route): Preston Village Hall

It takes the help of a large volunteer team to make the Cycle Challenge run smoothly and safely. Event village volunteers, route signage, parking marshals, and refreshment stop volunteers are just some of the roles you can get involved with at each location.

Contact Robert Grew on 01227 812609 or email robert.grew@pilgrimshospices.org for more information. 

This fully supported event includes:

• Pre-event pack
• Regular rest stops with drinks and snacks
• Bike mechanic support
• Fully signed route
• Free training app
• Event medical support
• Recovery vehicles
• Post-ride massage
• Finisher medal

Everyone will be given a ride number that identifies them as a participant. You must attach this number to your bike so that you're easily identifiable.

This number is also how you will be able to view professional photos of you taken on the ride, so make sure it is visible on the front of your handlebars.

You must be at least 14 years of age to participant in the Cycle Challenge. Any cyclist under the age of 18 on the day of the event must be accompanied at all times by a responsible adult cycling with them.

Parental consent forms must be submitted for young cyclists who are over 14 years. They can be downloaded from our website or completed on the day during sign-in.

Please collect and send in your sponsorship by 11 June 2023 so we can announce the grand total raised by Cycle Challenge and thank you for all of your fundraising efforts.

You can either hand in your sponsorship at your nearest Pilgrims hospice or send sponsorship to:

• Supporter Relations, Pilgrims Hospices, 56 London Road, Canterbury, Kent CT2 8JA.

Please dress in suitable cycle clothing for the weather and activity. Breathable materials and dressing in layers is advised as you will be sweating and spending a large proportion of the day outdoors.

We’re excited to bring you the official Pilgrims Hospices cycle jersey and neck scarf. Show your support out on the road with these stylish, quality garments, packed with great features such as zipped valuables pocket, full length zip and silicone waist gripper.

We also have Pilgrims neck scarfs, ideal for keeping you warm on cold or windy days, and providing shade from the sun on hot days. Grab yours today and help us be there for thousands of people coping with incurable illness in east Kent.

Cycle Jersey: £35, Neck Scarf: £5

Sizes available: S, M, L, XL, XXL

Jersey sizing guide

Order yours today by contacting 01227 812609 (weekdays 9am-5pm) or anytime at robert.grew@pilgrimshospices.org, or buy yours at the Cycle Challenge event on 1st May!