In 2015 a group of Exeter Chiefs supporters who share a passion for both Rugby and Cycling decided to cycle to a European Champions Cup away fixture – the trip to Bordeaux!

The 500 mile route took six days to complete, beginning at the home of the Exeter Chiefs, Sandy Park on January 10th 2016 and finishing at the Stade Andre Moga to watch the Chiefs take on Bordeaux-Bègles.

Money raised for the Exeter Foundation, who help support local charities, reached a staggering total of over £20,000. A conversation during this trip, beers in hand after a very long and wet day in the saddle, a few of the riders discussed the possibility of starting an Exeter Chiefs Cycle Club. The rest is history.

After the success of the Bordeaux challenge the group decided to make the event a yearly fixture. The Champions Cup fixture selected for the 2016/17 was the away trip to Ulster which would take the riders from Sandy Park, through Wales and up the east coast of Ireland via a ferry from Fishguard.

Lessons were learned from the first trip and the first away fixture in October was targeted as the Bordeaux trip had experienced some adverse weather from rain, hail and icy roads – no surprise considering the trip was in January! Ulster also has a cycle club and some of their riders came out for a ride with us before the home fixture at Sandy Park and presented us with an Ulster Cycling shirt after the game.

Again the group took on the arduous challenge of cycling to the Altrad Stadium in Montpelier, over 600 miles in six days! The weather was kind which was a bonus as some of the days were very long.

There were some great moments as usual on and off the bike. Cycling along the Loire Valley and over the hilly but beautiful Cervennes and into Montpelier was truly spectacular. The riders and support staff arrived at the Altrad stadium on the Friday evening before Saturday’s game, and what a game! A great win for the Chiefs against a high flying Montpelier side!

ECCC cycle to the Premiership Final

Following the success of the Exeter Chiefs semi-final against Newcastle Falcons, Exeter Chiefs Cycling Club organised a two-day cycle ride to Twickenham to join the Chiefs at the Aviva Premiership Final.

The team rode the 140 miles to Basingstoke on Day 1 (Friday, May 25) and then cycled the final 45 miles to Twickenham on Saturday morning to arrive at Twickenham mid-morning, before the headed to HQ for Exeter's final showdown against Saracens.

European Cycle Challenge 2018 - Exeter to Castres

This years European Cycle Challenge took on the arduous challenge of cycling to the Stade Pierre-Fabre in Castres, over 500 miles in six days! The weather was kind which was a bonus as some of the days were very long.

There were some great moments as usual on and off the bike. Cycling through the Pyrenees over the hilly but beautiful landscape and into Castres was truly spectacular. The riders and support staff arrived at the Stade Pierre-Fabre on the Friday evening before Saturday’s game, and what a game!

ECCC cycle to the Premiership Final

Following the success of the Exeter Chiefs semi-final against Northampton Saints, Exeter Chiefs Cycling Club organised a two-day cycle ride to Twickenham to join the Chiefs at the Aviva Premiership Final.

The team will ride the 140 miles to Basingstoke on Day 1 (Friday, May 25) and then cycle the final 45 miles to Twickenham on Saturday morning to arrive at Twickenham mid-morning, before the headed to HQ for Exeter's final showdown against Saracens.

Exeter Rugby European Cycle Challenge - La Rochelle 2019

Once again the cyclist on this year’s European Cycle Challenge really enjoyed the 440 mile trip down the west coast of France to La Rochelle, The 22 cyclist left Exeter on remembrance Sunday and were honoured to witness a moving (if chilly) ceremony the following morning (11th November) as they headed through Brittany for the Atlantic Coast.

Helped by some good weather, they headed over the spectacular St Nazaire bridge, past empty sandy beaches and the odd stop for refreshments on the way. Crossing the oyster beds of XX lead them into a wonderful reception in a vibrant La Rochelle and a police escort for Doris to the hotel to avoid unnecessary traffic chaos. The atmosphere in La Rochelle was something else and the cyclists were royally entertained by the home fans. After a pitch presentation to the La Rochelle club president, the Chiefs raised the bar and made the travelling supporters proud, triumphing in a hard fought battle, the first of many on their route to European Champions Cup glory!

The following day with ‘heavy heads’ the team headed back home having raised an impressive £19,417 for the Exeter Foundation as well as providing the Club Chairman with some ideas of how to build a new steel East Stand to build the atmosphere further at Sandy Park.

European Cycle Challenge 2022 - Exeter to Limerick

Following the enforced break for Covid and the European Champions Cup triumph against Racing 92 the cyclists were raring to go once again on their annual fund raising challenge. This year’s destination was the fabulous Thomond Park stadium in Limerick where the Chiefs faced Munster in the quarter finals of the European Champions Cup..

After a long 120 mile first day’s ride to Chepstow the cyclists settled down to a memorable ride along the south coast of Ireland along well maintained bike trails for much of the way. They headed through Waterford and Cork then down to Bantry Bay and over a spectacular pass with a memorable descent into Kenmare on the Kerry peninsula. The ring of Kerry ride is infamous in Ireland but after a night in Killarney the intrepid group were up for the challenge and completed the ride around Kerry in good time finishing with a spectacular view of the Killarney national park from Moll’s Gap and a great descent back down into Killarney where a good night’s rest was taken. The final day (via a couple of minor detours) took us into Limerick where the Guiness was awaiting. Once again the reception from the Munster supporters was amazing and a memorable night enjoyed by all, helped perhaps by the fact that they won and progressed to the semi final.

A route home from Dublin to Holyhead gave the cyclists an opportunity to enjoy a tour court and count the donations totalling £15,827 raised for the Exeter Foundation.

European Cycle Challenge 2023 - Bordeaux to London

Members of the Exeter Chiefs Cycling Club have today completed their near 500-mile ride from Bordeaux to London in aid of the Exeter Chiefs Foundation. Having been forced into a last-minute detour due to the progression of the Chiefs to the last four of the Heineken Champions Cup, the cyclists have this week made their way up through France, before taking the crossing from Caen to Portsmouth, and then ending up on the 76-mile conclusion to the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford.

The epic ride saw cyclists watch their rugby heroes in action against La Rochelle last Sunday before hitting the roads in time for tomorrow's final Gallagher Premiership game of the season at London Irish.

Now into its seventh year, the annual ride has once again seen the cyclists doing their bit for the Foundation, the official club charity. Previous rides, which have helped to raise over £120,00 for the Foundation, have seen the group travel to Bordeaux, Ulster, Montpellier, Castres, La Rochelle and Limerick last season.

Cyclists have been supported along the route by club chairman and CEO, Tony Rowe CBE, who once again has been part of the all-important back-up team, providing support and refreshments each day.

The European Cycle Challenge this year will take a different approach encapsulating a 'round trip' from Sandy Park commencing on the 12th April 2024.

The Challenge will leave Sandy Park late on Friday 12th April with an overnight ferry from Plymouth to Roscoff and return overnight via Cherbourg to Poole on Thursday 18th April with the final leg taking us across the south coast to Sandy Park for the Bath game.

The exact route has yet tobe finalised but wil cover around 500 miles of picturesque route along the north coast of Brittany and Normandy over 7days. Hotels and food will all be organised, as well support from 'Doris' our mobile kitchen! who will provide refreshments for everyone enroute. It will coincide with the 80th anniversary of the D Day landings so we will visit some of the beaches, learn more of the history behind the landings and havetime for reflection on the way. The aim for al is to enjoy the ride and have a great time.

There are a large number of cycling enthusiasts who support Exeter Rugby and this is a great opportunity to combine the two passions, have a great time and raise money for very worthy causes. Places to take part in the Exeter Rugby European Cycle Challenge are limited to 34, fi you are interested please go to the Exeter Chiefs Cycling website www.exeterchiefscycling.co.uk where you can register for the ride or contact David Cosford at david.cosford@ekogea.co.uk