If the sound of cycling against a backdrop of sweeping coastlines, rolling terrain and stunning views gets your hooves tapping, you’ll love the Mountbatten Isle of Wight Randonnee: an incredibly scenic cycling event that brings riders of all abilities together to experience the very best of riding in the Isle of Wight, while supporting the island’s community hospice.
We’re thrilled to be the official kit partner for the IOW Randonnee in 2026, with 20% of the revenue going to Mountbatten Isle of Wight (charity no. 1039086). If you’ve already entered this year’s event, you can check out the webshop and get your kit on order here. Interested in entering but not sure what to expect? Keep reading to get our full event guide!
What is the Mountbatten Isle of Wight Randonnee?
Date: 6 September 2026
Location: Isle of Wight, UK
Distance: 100km
Cost: £15 entry fee plus suggested charity fundraising target of £250 (which goes to Mountbatten Isle of Wight hospice).
With over 40 years of history, the Isle of Wight Randonnee is a legendary cycling event which showcases the best of the island’s stunning coastal scenery. First held in 1985, this cycling sportive has attracted thousands of riders from home and away and supported numerous charities over the years. And now in 2026, Mountbatten Isle of Wight (the island’s community hospice offering palliative and end-of-life care) are continuing the event’s legacy.
Proudly not a race, the Mountbatten Isle of Wight Randonnee is a welcoming and inclusive cycling challenge for riders of all abilities. We’ll dive more into the route a little later, but what’s great about this event is that – while the full route is 100km – you have the option to start at any checkpoint to customise your distance. Ride a little, or ride a lot. It’s all about getting involved and enjoying a brilliant day of cycling in a beautiful location, while helping to support a more than worthy cause.
Location: escape the city
Striking chalk cliffs, varied coastline and beaches aplenty. With its pretty countryside and seaside towns, you’d be forgiven for thinking the Isle of Wight is a world away, but in reality it’s only a couple of hours away from the hustle and bustle of London. The Isle of Wight is just off the south coast of the UK, easily reachable by ferry – or hovercraft if you want a bit more of an adventure! You can get through train-ferry tickets to make escaping the city in favour of island life seamless. Those travelling from overseas can take a train from most major UK airports to Portsmouth or Southampton to catch the ferry over.
The Isle of Wight might only be 22.5 miles long, but this compact island packs a punch with things to see and do. If you’re not too tired after an epic day of riding the Isle of Wight Randonnee, you can check out the beaches, take a hike on one of the island’s many trails, take the kids to an adventure park and even get involved in watersports. Come for the ride, stay for a long weekend!
Where to stay
The beauty of the Isle of Wight Randonnee is that you can really customise your ride. There are multiple checkpoints, and you can start your ride from any of them (other than Alverstone) – you just have to ride the route clockwise. You can learn more about where the checkpoints are in our route summary below. Accommodation options on the Isle of Wight are plentiful, whether you want to set up camp, stay in a self-catered cottage or treat yourself to a boutique hotel. We’d suggest deciding which checkpoint you want to start at and then find accommodation nearby for a stress-free start to event day.
Isle of Wight Randonnee: Date, distance and route details
The 2026 Isle of Wight Randonnee takes place on Sunday 6 September. Run by Mountbatten Isle of Wight, this year’s event features just the 100km route – but there are plans to bring back the 50km mini randonnee in future. However, you’ve got the option to start from any checkpoint (other than Alverstone) so you can either ride the full route or pick a checkpoint en route to tick off whatever distance suits your current fitness level.
Check points
The route goes clockwise around the island, taking in the following checkpoint:
- East Cowes: connection for the mainland ferry and the official start point
- Wootton
- Bembridge
- Alverstone (note: this is the only checkpoint you can’t start from)
- Watcombe Bottom Rugby Club
- Yarmouth
The checkpoints open at 9am and close at 6pm, giving you a full 9 hours to enjoy the ride. Most of them will offer refreshments for riders, and they’re run by local schools and community groups. Bring a little spare change if you can – donations at checkpoints go directly to schools on the island and it’s a nice way to show your appreciation!
Isle of Wight Randonnee route description and what to expect
The 100km route officially starts at East Cowes (though you can start from another checkpoint if you’d rather take in a shorter ride) and follows a clockwise loop around the island, meandering inland on country lanes and along coastal roads, passing through small towns and villages along the way. It really is the ultimate way to explore the Isle of Wight!
The route is on asphalt, so a road bike is a great choice for a smooth ride – but any bike (as long as it’s safe to ride) will be fine. This is a non-competitive, inclusive cycling event so there’s no pressure to rock up on an aggressive racing steed! The route is fully signposted, simply follow the blue and white official Round the Island Cycle Route signs. There’ll also be additional Randonnee signage along the way too, so you can be confident that you’re on the right track.
The Isle of Wight Randonnee cycling route makes use of the island’s quieter coastal and country lanes, but it is still an open road event so ride safely. Stay aware of your surroundings, follow the highway code and be respectful of other road users to make sure it’s a great day for everyone.
You can expect to tackle a few hills along the way, with approximately 1,500m of climbing over the 100km route. There are some steeper climbs to challenge the legs (particularly on the southern stretch) but the rewarding views will make it well worth your while. If hills give you the heebie-jeebies, take a look at our tips on improving your climbing. And on event day, just take it easy and enjoy the scenery – it doesn’t matter how fast you ride.
Head to the Visit Isle of White website to see a route map of the Round Island Cycling Route.
Mountbatten Isle of Wight Randonnee training tips
The Mountbatten Isle of Wight Randonnee is all about enjoying the ride, rather than feeling under pressure to push the pace. And with the option to shorten the route by starting at an alternative check point, it’s one of the most accessible cycling events for riders of all abilities. But to ensure you get the most out of the event, it’s still important to ensure you prepare adequately so you can enjoy the miles – rather than suffering through them. Here’s what to think about:
Build your cycling endurance
If you plan to ride the full 100 kilometres, you’ll want to prepare for a long day on the bike. The route profile has a solid amount of climbing (~1,500m elevation gain) so you could be on the bike for anything between 4-7hrs (on average) depending on how much you want to push the pace. Over the next few weeks, make use of the summer weather and tick off a few steady zone 2 long rides. Aim to have completed the distance (or close to it) in training so you know how it feels. These long rides will help to build your cycling endurance so come event day you can enjoy the scenery and soak up the atmosphere.
Prepare for the hills
Okay, so you’re not going to find any epic mountains on the Isle of Wight Randonnee cycling route. But this is still a pretty hilly course, with some steeper climbs (particularly on the southern section). That’s nothing to be frightened of: you’ve got plenty of time to tick off the checkpoints so you can take the climbs nice and steady. But to make the day more comfortable, it’s a good idea to do some cycling hill training as part of your preparation. If possible, plan a route with some hills mixed in for your long rides and practice pacing yourself up them at a comfortable rate. If you live somewhere flat, make use of virtual cycling platforms like Zwift or Rouvy to ride simulated hilly routes instead. Check out our in-depth blog post on how to get better at cycling up hills for more cycling climbing tips!
Practice fuelling on the bike
You can fuel up at checkpoints and/or stop off at cafes and pubs in the local villages during the Isle of Wight Randonnee… in fact, we’d recommend you do so! The only thing better than a long, scenic bike ride is a long, scenic bike ride with a cake stop. However, it’s also important that you’re able to take on fuel and hydration while you’re riding to keep your energy levels topped up. Use your long rides in training to find out what works for you and practice eating and drinking little and often. For energy, you can use sports nutrition (such as gels or bars) or you can go for real food options such as flapjacks, rice crispy bars or even fig rolls. If the weather is hot, consider adding electrolytes to your water bottles and just sip to thirst.
Top tip: if you tend to forget to eat and drink on the bike, set a custom alert every 30-45 mins on your bike computer to remind yourself!
Gear guide: what to wear and other essential kit for the Isle of Wight Randonnee
With the Randonnee taking place in early September, we should still be getting mild and sunny conditions. But, this is the UK – so it’s probably still worth being prepared for changeable weather. Here’s what we suggest you pack:
- Short sleeved cycling jersey. And it just so happens we’ve got great-looking Mountbatten Isle of Wight Randonnee cycling jerseys right here!
- Comfortable cycling bib shorts. We’d go for the Stolen Goat Endurance bib shorts, as these are specifically designed for comfort during longer rides. (Shop men’s | Shop women’s)
- Cycling gilet. Pop it in your back pocket ready to take the edge of any nippy head winds.
- Arm warmers. Another essential accessory to keep in your jersey pocket, there if you need them – easy to carry if not.
- Cycling mitts/gloves. Keeps your hands comfy – road rumble can lead to pesky numbness over longer distances (and the microfibre thumb is useful for mopping up any failed snot rockets…)
- Breathable cycling socks. Fresh hooves, happy rider.
- Helmet. It’s mandatory to wear a helmet at the Isle of Wight Randonnee so don’t leave your lid at home!
- Puncture repair kit. Hopefully you won’t need it, but it’s best to have the appropriate supplies so any minor punctures don’t ruin your ride.
- Water bottles and snacks.
- Bike lights. Remember you’ll be riding on open roads, shared with other traffic, so lights are a good idea to help you stay safe and visible.
- Sunscreen. Apply a sports specific sunscreen before you set off (yep, even if it’s cloudy – UV can still be high!) and consider taking a small roll on or sachet to top up as needed.
How to enter
You can find out more about the Mountbatten Isle of Wight Randonnee on their website, or click here to sign up right way. Don’t forget to treat yourself to the official Stolen Goat event kit!