One of KILOTOGO's popular early season sportives, Motion in Mercia, is now open for entries. Moving to a new HQ for 2015, the event will take place on 26 April this year and includes Cannock Chase, the smallest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) on the UK mainland.   

Ancient Mercia was an early Anglo-Saxon kingdom ruled over by King Wulfhere - hence the name Wolverhampton. The industrial revolution rolled out in a number of places, but modern Mercia can pretty much claim to be the catalyst. Taking in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ironbridge, where the process of smelting iron with coke was perfected, it's where the modern industrial world got in motion. 

For 2015 Motion in Mercia will be based at a new event HQ - Weston Park in Staffordshire. Offering plenty of on-site parking, the venue also plays host to the popular V-Festival.  Also new for 2015, the KILOTOGO feed stations will now include a variety of sandwiches, savoury snacks and various cakes, from rich fruit cake to flapjack and granola bars; all produced specifically for the event by a family baker. 

There will also be new routes on offer this year, with 108, 74 and 51 miles options. All three routes still cover Cannock Chase, the Wrekin and the Severn Valley. In fact, for the most part, this sportive is about gradual climbs - except if you choose the long route, where you'll find a couple of real testers. Former Olympian and 4 times World Champion, Hugh Porter MBE, cut his teeth in these areas. 

Last year Life on Mars star, Dean Andrews joined hundreds of cyclists as they tackled the event, which includes some of the most scenic locations in the Midlands. Simon Thomson, Director of KILOTOGO, said: "Motion in Mercia is a truly unique ride. The route takes in some of England's most breath-taking scenery including Cannock Chase, the Severn Valley and Ironbridge." 

As an added bonus, if you enter more than eight weeks prior to the event you'll receive a free HIGH5 Race Pack worth £14.99. 

Cyclosport's Sean Lacey reviewed the event for us in 2013: 

"Organisation was slick as always, with plenty of pre-event communication and the timing sticker and rider number being mailed out in advance... The not too tough route was well suited to an early season ride and although biased, Shropshire and Staffordshire offers some of the best scenery and riding around. Give this one a go next year, or the tougher Shropshire Mynd event later this year."

For more information and to enter, visit www.kilotogo.com.