The KOM Sportive is one of Scotland’s best-loved road cycling events. Billed as one of the toughest events of its kind it takes riders over some of the highest passes in the Cairngorms and offers two spectacular routes.
From 2008-2014 the event was run under the expert guidance of the Deeside Thistle Cycling Club (DTCC). The DTCC was founded in 1948 and has grown to over 550 members making it one of the biggest cycling clubs in the UK. A comprehensive racing programme is promoted annually, and racing men and women from the club have competed at all levels from club events to the Olympics. The club has long supported mass participation events catering for all cyclists from novice to expert. The KOM Sportive was born from this philosophy of cycling for all.
The event can trace its roots all the way back to 1987, when DTCC members Alastair Brodie and Sandy Lindsay embarked on a charity bike ride to Basecamp Everest. On their return, they decided to continue their support for the Malcolm Sergeant Cancer Charity for Children by organising the Great Inverurie Bike Ride. This iconic local event ran for 21 years and regularly had over 1,000 riders who over the years raised a total of more than £300,000.
When this event came to a natural end Alastair and Sandy felt it was time to return to their long-held desire to alleviate the poverty they had seen along their way to Basecamp Everest. The opportunity to do that came with an invite in 2008 to organise a sportive in collaboration with the Grampian Transport Museum in Alford. The KOM Sportive was born!
The event worked as a great platform for raising money for Kids Action, a Scottish charity that provides goats and educational funding to create a lasting and positive impact in some of the poorest areas of the world.
In 2015 Firetrail Events took on the KOM Sportive and is proud to continue developing this prestigious event. 2016 sees the introduction of a new improved route, which starts and finishes in Aboyne. The route now takes in more of the beautiful surroundings of the River Dee and adds a wee bit more climbing! Our aim is to continue supporting multiple charities through partnerships and the promotion of fundraising to all participants.