Hello Tour of the Highlanders, Not long now until your mammoth 3 day adventure. Below are the basic points of knowledge that you need before rolling out. Finer detail on road conditions and points of caution will flow at the start of next week. The only tarmac we have concerns over is Ben Lawers up and down.
Day 1 – Saturday 28th May
Start HQ – Glencoe Ski Centre, PH49 4HZ
Finish HQ – Pitlochry High School, East Moulin rd, Pitlochry. PH16 5ET
Route – Glencoe – Ben Lawers – Schiehallion – Errochty – Old A9 – Pitlochry
Registration, number & timing chip allocation 7.30am – 8.15am
Start 8.30am – 8.45am (20 riders every 2 minutes) PROMPT
CAR PARKING AT GLENCOE – We have been allocated 100 car park spaces on the right immediately as you enter the car park. This will be cordoned off on the Friday. If you are planning to arrive on Friday evening and park overnight please park elsewhere in the car park then on Saturday morning manoeuvre your car into space as directed by the marshals. Glencoe expect upwards of 500 other cars for the Scottish Downhill Mountain Bile Championships.
Day 2 – Sunday 29th May – The Classic 3 Pistes Cycle Sportive
Start HQ – Pitlochry High School, East Moulin rd, Pitlochry. PH16 5ET
Finish HQ – Cairngorm Mtn, Aviemore, Inverness-Shire PH22 1RB
Start 7am – 9pm
Day 3 – Monday 30th May
Start HQ – Car Park of Mike’s Bikes, 5A Myrtlefield, Aviemore PH22 1SB
Finish HQ – Glencoe Ski Centre, PH49 4HZ
Sign on – 8.15am-8.30am
Start – 8.30am-8.45am
BAG DROP SYSTEM
Each morning you can put your weekend kit bag / suitcase in the bag drop van and we will transport it to that day’s finish.
We will provide you with a luggage label. Ensure it is securely fastened and has your ride number written clearly.
On day 2 you can collect your bag at Cairngorm car park finish up until 5.30pm. Alternatively you can get it in Aviemore at Cairngorm Hotel car park from 6pm – 7pm
Our advice for faster finishers on Day 2 is have your kit bag and pack a small rucksack / courier bag in it. At Cairngorm throw your change of clothes into it and ride to your Aviemore accommodation then collect larger bag in the evening.
FEED STOPS
We pride ourselves in overstocking the feed stops with yummy goodies. There will be plenty of bananas, high 5 gels, water, powder for drinks, Aussie bites, flap jacks, chocolate bars, soreen, pretzels and whatever else we like the look of in Costco.
Day 1 Toilet & Feed Stops
30km – Tyndrum – Toilet & shop
38km – Crainlarich – Toilet & Shop
60km – Killin Village Hall – Full Feed Stop & toilets
83km – Innerwick forest car park – Full Feed Stop & toilets
117km – Tummel Bridge – Toilet & shop
118km – Tummel Bridge – Full Feed Stop
144km – House of Bruar – Full Feed Stop & Toilets
Day 2 Toilet and Feed Stops
48km – Glenshee Ski Centre– Full Feed Stop & Toilets
96km – Corgarff– Full Feed Stop & Toilets
102km – The Lecht Ski Centre– Full Feed Stop & Toilets
135km – Nethy Bridge Hotel– Full Feed Stop & Toilets
Day 3 Toilet and Feed Stops
35km – Laggan toilet
39km – Wolftrax – Full Feed Stop & Toilets
83km – Spean Bridge at Commando Monument – Feed only
99km – Corpach– Full Feed Stop & Toilets
146km – Corran Ferry – Full Feed Stop & Toilets
GROUP RIDING
Days 1 and 2 both start with a gently rolling, predominately downhill parcorps. It is most likely (in fact utterly desirable from a riders point of view) that you will remain in your packs of 20 for upwards of 50km. Both days feature key trunk roads through the Scottish Highlands which are wide enough for overtaking. Please be courteous to your fellow road users. It is perfectly legal for you to ride in pairs. Please DO NOT ride more than 2 abreast EVER. When the road narrows (particularly early stages of Laggan Rd on Day 3) please allow other road users to pass safely.
SAFE DESCENDING
Day 1 features a couple of tricky, narrow, steep down hills at Ben Lawers, Schiehallion and Trinafour. You have another 2 days ahead of you with faster more fun and SAFER downhills, so cool your jets on Day 1 and enjoy the scenery.
OLD A9 BIKE TRACK DAY 1
The old A9 bike track features bollards and a few sections of crappy tarmac. It’s also a good steady downhill where you can pick up speed. Try to avoid sitting right on each other’s wheels and make sure you keep your eyes scanning ahead… for the best steak pie shop in the world at House of Bruar.
CORRAN FERRY
Cyclists get on the ferry for free. They are aware you are coming. DO NOT RIDE onto the pier or ferry. There will be a feed stop before you board. Unfortunately the toilets are on the other side of the water. If you are caught short pop into the pub – they sell the most amazing cakes. Buy one and spend a penny.
BROOM WAGON & MECHANICS
On days 1 and 3 we will have mobile mechanics and 2 broom vehicles following the course. They will also be at the start of each day for any last minute tinkering. On Day 2 we will also have static mechanics at Glenshee and Corgarff.
CUT OFFS
Day 1
Killin – 11.30am
Keltneyburn – 12.45pm (divert via Logierait)
Tummel Bridge – 1.45pm (divert via Sth Loch Tummel)
Trinafour – 2.30pm (divert via HoB)
House of Bruar – 4.00pm
Pitlochry – 6pm
Day 2
Cairnwell Summit 11.00
junction of A93/B976 12.00
Lecht Summit 14.30
Nethy Bridge 16.00
Day 3
Spean Bridge – 11am
Banavie – 12noon (divert via Camusnagaul ferry)
Corran Ferry – 3pm
Glencoe Ski – 5pm
ROUTES GPX
DAY 1 GPX http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/923862321
DAY 2 GPX http://www.mapmyride.com/gb/pitlochry-sct/three-pistes-challenge-route-320662845
DAY 3 GPX http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/917389681
Day 1 Glencoe to Pitlochry
Long route via Schiehallion and House of Bruar

Tour of the Highlands Day 1. Glencoe Ski Centre, Crainlarich, Ben Lawers, Schiehallion, Errochty Dam, Old A9, House of Bruar, Blair Castle, Pitlochry
Day 1 Glencoe to Pitlochry
Short route via Aberfeldy & Logierait

Day 2 – The Classic 3 Pistes Cycle Sportive
Pitlochry – Glenshee – The Lecht – Cairngorm

Tour of the Highlands Day 2 – The 3 Pistes Classic Cycle Sportive Pitlochry – Glenshee – The Lecht – Cairngorm
Day 3 Aviemore – Glencoe
Long route via Nevis Range, Kinlocheil and Corran Ferry

Tour of the Highlands Day 3 (long route) Aviemore, Newtonmore, Nevis Range, Kinlocheil, Corran Ferry, Glencoe.
Day 3 Aviemore – Glencoe
Short route via Nevis Range, Fort William, Camusnagual Ferry and Corran Ferry
