Tom Simpson Cycling Festival

31/08/2026

Get booked on today!

Can't ask for much better than that!

Today is the final day to get your tickets for Simpson Sportive! There aren't many left so we can't guarantee walk ins on the day.

3 beautiful routes, all in the sunshine!

Book yours now - https://cyclinglegends.co.uk/pages/simpson-sportive

27/08/2026

Tom Simpson Cycling Festival Community Events

As part of the Tom Simpson Cycling Festival we put on free events for the community. This year we have 3 events for you to enjoy.

Monday 7th September:
🚲 Bike maintenance and coaching by British Cycling Level 1 coaches.
🏠 On Civic Square, next to Harworth & Bircotes Town Hall, DN11 8JN
⏰ Drop in anytime from 6 - 7.30pm

Tuesday 8th September:
🚲 Short group ride around the new Harworth Green Wheel walk and cycle trail led by Chris Sidwells
🏠 Meet at Harworth & Bircotes Town Hall car park, DN11 8JN
⏰ Meet at 6.30pm, will be back by 7.30pm

Saturday 12th September:
🚲 Kids grass track racing
🏠 Harworth Sports Pavilion, DN11 8JT
⏰ From 4.30 - 5.30pm
Sign up to the kids grass track cycling here - https://forms.gle/YY2GitPnDSeCHAkG9

Full details are on our website - https://cyclinglegends.co.uk/pages/community-events

14/08/2026

If anyone is planning on riding a Peugeot bike with Peugeot kit please let us know!

There will be a familiar splash of black-and-white chequers at this year’s Simpson Retro Weekend, and perhaps more of it than usual.

This photograph from the 2023 event shows Joanne Simpson, Tom Simpson’s daughter, in pink in the Peugeot team car belonging to long-time Simpson Retro supporter Richard Disbrow, surrounded by riders wearing replicas of the famous Peugeot team kit that Tom wore to some of his greatest victories.

We’re delighted to announce that Joanne will be back with us this year, and so will Richard’s wonderful Peugeot team car, but this time we want to go one step further.

If you already have a ticket for the Simpson Retro Ride, or are going to buy one, and intend to ride a Peugeot bike and have Peugeot kit, we’d love to hear from you. Our plan is to bring the Peugeot riders together at the start of the Retro Ride and send them away first as a group, creating our own little recreation of one of cycling’s most distinctive teams.

But with one step more…

Richard’s wife Ruth Disbrow has very kindly agreed to drive the team car behind the Peugeot group, giving riders and spectators a sight that could have come straight from the professional peloton of the 1960s.

Tom joined Peugeot in 1963 and remained with the French team for 5 seasons, including the extraordinary year of 1965 when he became Britain’s first men’s professional road race world champion and won Il Lombardia. So the white Peugeot jersey, its black chequerboard band and Michelin lettering became inseparable from some of the defining images of his career.

So, if you’ve got the bike, you’ve got the kit and you’re riding the Retro, let us know. We’d like as many Peugeots as possible lined up together to make this one of the sights of the weekend. Contact us on [email protected] and just head your email ‘Peugeot Team Car’ giving your name a ride number.

One important caveat! We may be recreating the look and atmosphere of professional cycling’s golden age, but no pacing behind the team car, and no sticky bottles!

Some traditions are best left in the past.

If you haven’t already then join us by buying a ticket for the 2026 Simpson Retro using this link - https://cyclinglegends.co.uk/pages/simpson-retro

13/08/2026

We have just released 10 more tickets for the Saturday talks during Simpson Retro on 12th September 2026.

It was a sell out event last year - and this year will be too so get your tickets quick!

This year we are delighted to be joined by cycling legends Theo de Rooij, Hugh Porter, Steve Joughin and Phil Liggett as Chris Sidwells interviews them live on stage.

The talks take place from 1-4pm in Harworth and Bircotes Town Hall on Saturday 12th September.

Get your tickets on our website - https://cyclinglegends.co.uk/pages/simpson-retro

11/08/2026

1 month to go until the Simpson Retro weekend!

There are a few tickets left to see Allan Peiper's live podcast on Friday 11th September, and the talks on Saturday 12th September with Theo de Rooij, Hugh Porter, Phil Liggett and Steve Joughin - but not many so get them quick!

All our events are based in Harworth, the town that Tom Simpson grew up in.

This year is going to be the biggest yet, with retro team cars and bikes, an all day cycling market and much much more!

Find out more and get your tickets for the Friday podcast and three course dinner, Saturday talks, and Sunday retro ride here -

Join the Simpson Retro Cycling Festival – a nostalgic weekend ride celebrating Tom Simpson’s legacy with vintage bikes and great cycling spirit.

26/05/2026

Only 1 week left of Early Bird tickets for Simpson Retro and Simpson Sportive!

Early bird prices ends on Sunday 31st May at 23:59.

Both events are part of the wider Tom Simpson Cycling Festival, that takes place in Harworth, North Nottinghamshire from 6th - 13th September 2026.

Find out more about everything we have planned on our website - https://cyclinglegends.co.uk/pages/tom-simpson-cycling-festival

01/04/2026

Tickets are really selling out now for Friday and Saturday, if you are planning on going then get your tickets now before it's too late!

All available tickets are on sale, once these are gone, they are gone!

https://tickets.cyclinglegends.co.uk/events/cyclinglegendsmedia/2036886

24/03/2026

Only 1 week left of our Super Early Bird pricing for both Simpson Retro and Simpson Sportive.

Simpson Retro is for bikes pre-1995 and is back for it's sixth year. It is a full weekend of retro themed activities, including a live podcast and three course dinner with Allan Peiper, talks with cycling legends Theo De Rooij, Steve Joughin, Hugh Porter and Phil Liggett, a big cycling market and closing out the weekend is a multi distance retro ride. Find out more here - https://cyclinglegends.co.uk/pages/simpson-retro

Simpson Sportive is for all bikes and is back for it's second year. There are three distances to choose from - 60km, 100km and 100 miles - and comes with plenty of added extras - event musettes, finishers medal, broom wagon, event photography by Andy Jones and more. Find out more here - https://cyclinglegends.co.uk/pages/simpson-sportive

Super Early Bird pricing ends on 31st March 2026, so get your tickets quickly!

Any questions please email [email protected]

25/02/2026

We are pleased to announce our Best in Show competition categories for Simpson Retro 2026, including a brand new category this year. All trophies have been donated by our chief judge, Bill Barrowcliffe, who is part of the DNA of this event.

1. Best in Show
This is open to all pre-1995 bikes, either original or restored. The winner gets to keep the perpetual trophy for one year. First, second and third will be awarded trophies they keep, and fourth to sixth place will receive medals.

2. Best Original Bike
This is open to pre-1995 bikes that are in their original condition, which means original paintwork and components (we realise items such as tyres, brake pads, various drive-train parts wear out and require replacement). The winner receives the perpetual shield and a trophy to keep.

3. Best Team
This is judged on the best turned out 4 riders from each team who have the same brand of bikes, ideally the same model and year, and are wearing as near as possible identical team kit. First, second and third teams will be awarded trophies, and the 4 members of each team will get medals. A judges weighting is given to the total number who take part as a team. Minimum 2 per team.

4. The Paul Edmonds Trophy
This is given to the Volunteer of the Year, as decided by the organisers and is given with great gratitude who helps us put this event on each year. We absolutely couldn’t do it without them. Paul Edmonds helped us every year, along with his wife Jane, but sadly passed away in 2025. We owe it to him to help keep his memory alive.

Please note too that although we allow modern copies of pre-1995 bikes, such as the recent TI-Raleigh team replica, to take part in the Retro Ride, they won’t be considered for any Best in Show awards.

All bikes entered in the Best in Show competitions must have been ridden in the Retro Ride.

And finally, judging is totally in the opinion of and at the discretion of our judges.

This year's judges are Bill Barrowcliffe and John Hargreaves with help from Dave Marsh.

Get your tickets to Simpson Retro here - https://cyclinglegends.co.uk/pages/simpson-retro

23/02/2026

This year we have three brand new routes for Simpson Sportive, exploring more of those lovely quiet roads in North Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire.

All routes start and finish at Harworth & Bircotes Town Hall, North Nottinghamshire and are mostly flat, with just a few punchy climbs to keep things interesting.

Choose from three distances - 63km, 100km and 161km (100 miles).

Simpson Sportive kicks off the eight-day Tom Simpson Cycling Festival on Sunday 6th September; it is open to anyone on any bike.
Check out the routes, and find out more, on our website - https://cyclinglegends.co.uk/pages/simpson-sportive