Orbea LoveTouro 2024 powered by Cycle Law Scotland

A one-off, open road cycle sportive – very much in the spirit of Touro – as part of the TweedLove Bike Festival in Peebles.

Download the LoveTouro Rider Notes 2024

Results

Online entries are now closed. We’re reserved a small number of walk-up entries over the weekend that will be first-come, first-served. Registration will be open; Friday 1600-1900 / Saturday 0800-1800 / Sunday 0730 – 0830.

A big new road ride for TweedLove!

TweedLove Bike Festival has always celebrated riding bikes – every sort of bike – in the Tweed Valley, so we’re pleased to now introduce a new road event to the festival: Orbea LoveTouro powered by Cycle Law Scotland. It’s a beautiful, open road sportive and is paying tribute to our sister road event, the well-known closed road sportive Tour O The Borders.

So this event will have a definite ‘Touro’ flavour, and as anyone who’s ridden either that event or Skinny Tweed (TweedLove’s original road ride) will know it will showcase how good the tarmac riding is here – with smiles for miles on idyllic, quiet roads alongside the friendliest bunch of riders you’ll ever meet.

With long or short course options, this is the perfect opportunity as a first sportive in a relaxed atmosphere, but the full course will of course also provide an enjoyable challenge for more experienced road cyclists. LoveTouro is open for anyone 14 years of age or older. Children age 14 or 15 MUST ride with a responsible adult for the duration of the event and have parental consent. Anyone age 16 or older is considered an adult.

LoveTouro aims to celebrate road cycling in this regions alongside everything that has made Tour O The Borders the south of Scotland’s most popular mass participation sports event. While the Touro is going through a period of uncertainty regarding permissions for its continuation as a closed road event, we’re definitely intending to keep the famous Touro spirit alive and well at TweedLove Festival.

Please note this is not a closed road circuit.

The route

We’re very excited to announce this year’s route which will take riders out of a buzzing TweedLove Bike Festival in Peebles town centre and into some challenging but very rewarding hills.

The full course will be 100km and the short course will be a bit over 70km.

The full route also contains the Berry Bush and Witchieknowe climbs. Two of the area’s classics previously included on Tour O The Borders routes.

So, what do you get for your money?

A fantastic road ride through some of the UK’s best cycling landscapes and awesome scenery
Great feed stations on the route with a variety of locally-made treats, including cakes and the world-famous macaroni pies from Forsyths of Peebles
The best electronic chip timing system
Official medal for all finishers
Mechanical support before and during the event
Comprehensive first aid and safety provision around the course
Water and toilet stops where you’ll most likely need them (we’re riders too)
Buzzing TweedLove Festival event village

Registration

Come along to Event HQ on Tweed Green, Peebles, EH45 8AP to register for LoveTouro and collect your Rider Pack.

You can register during the following times over the Festival weekend;

Friday 14 June 16:00 – 19:00
Saturday 15 June 08:00 – 18:00
Sunday 16 June 07:30 onwards

Someone else can collect your rider pack on your behalf if they can confirm your emergency contact details.

Start Times

LoveTouro starts in waves (groups of up to 40 to spread out the riders departing) from approx. 08:00 – 09:30.
Faster riders first. Please choose an early start wave if you plan to complete the course in a fast time.
You will be issued with a timing chip. All riders’ times are logged and will be available at the finish.
All Rider Times will be posted on the event website as soon as possible after the event.

Mechanical Support

We’re delighted to have Bspoke Cycles (High Street, Peebles) providing mechanical back-up at LoveTouro 2024. On the outward part of the ride they’ll be at the Yarrow junction and will then move to Traquair to assist returning riders.

You will be asked to pay for any items and repairs depending on what’s involved.

Their shop will be open early on Sunday and during the rest of the weekend as well – see timings below.

Friday 9am–6pm
Sat 8am–6pm
Sun 6am–4pm

Camping

Camping is now available for booking. The campsite is a short walk/ride from the festival village and is suitable for tents and vehicles. Pitches are available to book for 1, 2 or 3 nights from Friday 14th June – Monday 17th June 2024. Maximum of 2 people per pitch. £15 for 1 night, £20 for 2 nights and £25 for 3 nights.

Please find more information here or book here.

For more information visit the Tour O The Borders website here.

Please check out Orbea here and Cycle Law Scotland here.

Want to get involved in other ways?

Join us as a volunteer via our online application form. It’s a lot of fun (honest) and you’ll have Bike Valley’s eternal thanks!