Ultimate 2023 Ontario Road Cycling Event and Race Guide

Enjoy the province’s exceptional variety of organized cycling fun.

Ontario cycling events are back in full swing. The province hosts outstanding road- and gravel-riding events spring through fall, with opportunities to meet up with like-minded people for a tour or race everywhere from southwestern Ontario to the far northwest. Regardless of your skill level, there are great cycling events happening in Ontario. Check out Ontario By Bike to find helpful local shops to enhance your experience with complete bike rentals, as well as a map of bicycle friendly businesses, including accommodations, restaurants and pubs. 

Bicycle Ontario provides more information about cycling clubs across the province, many of which organize recurring events like weekly group rides. Meanwhile, Ontario By Bike hosts two-day, self-guided and fully supported bike tours on some of Ontario’s most spectacular routes throughout the cycling season. Dates and destinations are available now. Also, don’t forget to check Ontario’s many great riding options on websites (and mobile apps) like AllTrails, MTBProject and BikeMap.

Here’s a month-by-month list of road bike, gravel and cyclocross events and races across the province.

riders take part in the Hurtin In Haliburton road cycling race
Start training for a summer of fun. Photo: Hurtin In Haliburton

April Ontario Cycling Events

29-30 Paris to Ancaster Race — Sign up for Canada’s spring cycling classic in southwestern Ontario, with 20-, 40- and 70-km course options exploring gravel, farm lanes and trails, all finishing in Ancaster. The event supports Hamilton’s St. Joseph’s Healthcare.

TBD Hell of the North — Sign up for this 90-km spring cyclocross classic in Ballantrae, near Stouffville, if you’re looking to suffer on a tough course with difficult terrain. A shorter Heck of the North option is suitable for road bikes.

TBD Clarence Rockland Classic — This 85-km citizens race in eastern Ontario includes a mix of gravel and paved roads.

cyclist celebrates while participating in the Sea Otter Canada road cycling race
Sign up for a race and get motivated to bike more this year. Photo: Sea Otter Canada

May Ontario Cycling Events

7 CN Cycle for CHEO — Events at Ottawa’s Canadian War Museum in LeBreton Flats support children with cancer at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Bike routes range from 15 to 70 km.

13 Creemore Springs Turas Mor — Bring your gravel bike for this challenging ride through scenic Clearview Township. Inspired by the Gaelic roots of Creemore, Turas Mor – the Great Journey welcomes all riders, seasoned or first timers, to explore the scenic rolling hills of Creemore. Three routes are available, ranging from 20 to 60 km and all starting at Creemore Springs Brewery. Other highlights include the post-ride lunch and cold beer.

14 Tour of Kincardine – Experience a wide range of gravel riding conditions in this 30-km event on the shore of Lake Huron in southwestern Ontario, along parts of the Kincardine Trails system, with a mix of forested trails, lakeside paths and secondary roads.

22-25 Canadian Tandem Rally — If you love riding a tandem bicycle, you’ll find plenty of companionship at this multi day event in Welland, near Niagara Falls. Route lengths range from 50 to 90 km.

27-June 2 7 Days in May — There are plenty of riding options along the Lake Ontario shore of Toronto and the Golden Horseshoe in this weeklong fundraising event.

28 Rotary Lilac Ride — Experience the renowned scenery of southeastern Ontario’s Prince Edward County on this ride from the community of Picton.

TBD Bike-A-Thon Plus — Ride around Cornwall, Ontario, to support the Children’s Treatment Centre.

27 Jack Ride — Group rides up to 125 km in Caledon in late May to raise funds for youth mental health.

27-28 Tour Du Canada Century Ride — Cycle Canada’s weekend of road riding north of Toronto includes 100- and 160-km options.

NOKIA Bike Days — Sundays in Ottawa from late May to early September are all about cycling, with 50 km of roads in the National Capital Region closed to motor vehicles.

Friday Night Lights — Starting Friday nights in May and continuing all summer long, Windsor hosts biweekly rides to explore the city’s nightlife. Follow @WindsorEats to learn more about dates and meeting places.

cyclists participate in the Sea Otter Canada road cycling race
Discover some of the province's best riding routes. Photo: Sea Otter Canada

June Ontario Cycling Events

3 Cayuga Velo — Can you ride for 24 hours? This relay event supports Special Olympics Ontario and involves laps of a closed course on pristine pavement, with smooth banked turns, near Bowmanville.

3-4 Manitoulin Passage Ride — There’s no better way to discover some of Ontario’s finest road biking on Manitoulin Island than with this two-day supported ride. Registration includes ferry crossing, meals and entertainment.

4 Bike for Brain Health Supporting Baycrest — Sign up to ride the Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Expressway and support research, innovation, care and education in the study of aging and brain health. Some of Toronto’s busiest roadways are closed to vehicles to support 25-, 50- and 75-km rides.

10 Bike The Creek — Peel Region hosts an all-levels bike ride exploring the natural and cultural heritage of southern Ontario.

10-11 The Princess Margaret Ride to Conquer Cancer — Raise money to support research at one of Canada’s largest cancer centres and enjoy two days of cycling in the GTA.

11 Mental Health in Motion — This Newmarket-based event includes 25- and 60-km rides as well as running and walking categories, all in support of Ontario’s first and only mobile mental health clinic for youth ages 12 to 25.

12-16, 19-23 Alvar Treasure — Discover the best of cycling on Manitoulin Island with this all-inclusive ride.

16-18 Sea Otter Canada — This popular event at Blue Mountain includes bike sales, demos, kids’ activities, entertainment and food and beverage vendors. But the real draw is the riding, including a wide variety of road and gravel disciplines like hill climbs and a criterion.

17 Cycle for Sight – Raise money for the Foundation Fighting Blindness and enjoy scenic cycling routes and gourmet food, near Toronto.

25 Hairshirt Classic Double Century — This one-day ride is free for members of the Toronto Bicycle Network...but it involves a gruelling 322-km road route from Mississauga to Niagara and back.

TBD Manulife Heart & Stroke Ride for Heart — Experience the Gardiner and Don Valley Parkway traffic free on this road ride in the Greater Toronto Area.

10-11 Rideau Lakes Cycle Tour — This premier road-riding event organized by the Ottawa Bicycle Club includes four different routes from Ottawa to Kingston.

11 The Blue Mountains Gravel Gran Fondo — This road race in Grey County appeals to competitive gravel cyclists.

TBD Tour de Grand — If you love gravel grinders and cyclocross, check out this event with 50- and 76-km routes in Cambridge.

TBD Moveathon Ride — Choose between 26-, 50-, 100- and 160-km route options on this charity ride in York Region, near Toronto.

TBD Mental Health in Motion — There are many riding options for experts and families in this inclusive charity event in Newmarket.

TBD Ride Don't Hide — Two weeks of cycling events in many Ontario communities raises funds and challenges the stigma of mental health. 

25 WHEELS — Experience the stunning Niagara Escarpment on two wheels with options from 25 to 100 km.

25 Tour De Guelph — This community bicycling event includes a host of riding options, ranging from 5 to 160 km, on a range of surfaces.

TBD Tour de Mississippi Mills — The road riding in eastern Ontario is outstanding and this event near Ottawa includes 30-, 60-, 80- or 100-km routes.

June is Bike Month, and there are plenty of special events organized in Toronto and the Golden Horseshoe as well as the eastern Ontario community of Mississippi Mills.

overhead view of the forested course of the Hurtin In Haliburton road cycling race
Enjoy some of the province's best riding. Photo: Hurtin In Haliburton

July Ontario Cycling Events

1 Hub Trail Festival — Come to Sault Ste. Marie for a Canada Day celebration of healthy living, including cycling on the paved 25-km John Roswell Hub Trail. This urban route takes in greenspace, residential and commercial neighbourhoods and the scenic St. Mary’s River waterfront.

15 Reggie Ramble — This challenging gravel grinder/cyclocross event includes 65-, 130- and 200-km options, east of Peterborough.

21 Healthy Parks Healthy People — Day entry is free at all Ontario Parks across the province, many of which have great cycling options. Check out the trails at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park near Thunder Bay or cruise the hard-surface Old Railway Bike Trail in Algonquin Provincial Park.

29-30 MS Bike Grand Bend to London — For over 30 years, this 150-km, 2-day ride through the scenic countryside of southwestern Ontario has been one of the most popular cycling fundraisers for multiple sclerosis research in Canada.

TBD Le Tour de Norfolk — Scenic backroads with minimal traffic are the big draw for this ride in Norfolk County, near Lake Erie. Routes range from 40 to 160 km.

a group of riders crest a small rise on the course of the Sea Otter Canada road cycling race
Find your crew. Photo: Sea Otter Canada

August Ontario Cycling Events

6 Bluewater International Granfondo — Experience southwestern Ontario’s Lambton County on this unique Granfondo in Sarnia, with route options ranging from 30 to 150 km.

8-14 Great Waterfront Trail Adventure — Explore the southeastern portion of the epic GWTA on this fully supported tour of paved, cyclist-friendly routes from the Bay of Quinte to the Quebec border.

13 Andy's Ride — This Port Carling-based road ride features three routes ranging from 35 to 135 km, in support of Hospice Muskoka.

12 Northern Pass — Cycle Muskoka and raise funds for the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.

6-11 Friends For Life Bike Rally — Over 400 cyclists gather to ride the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail from Toronto to Montreal, raising funds for people living with HIV/AIDS.

19 Cycle Camelot — Support the Georgian Bay Cancer Support Centre on this friendly charity group ride out of Penetanguishene, on Lake Huron’s Georgian Bay.

19-20 Dunnville Grand Tour — The Lake Huron shores of Haldiman County host something for all levels of road riders on this weekend event, with routes ranging from 25 to 100 km.

20 Gran Fondo Lake Huron — Experience the Lake Huron scenery of Bruce County on this group Gran Fondo, starting in Southampton, Ontario and supporting the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation.

TBD 3 Port Tour — This fully supported ride links waterfront communities in Elgin County, taking in the splendours of Lake Erie’s north shore. Three rides are available: 50 km, 100 km and 160 km.

TBD Tour de Bonnechere — The quiet Ottawa Valley town of Eganville hosts this family friendly road cycling event in mid-August. Tours range from 20 to 100 km, with spectacular views.

TBD Kawartha Lakes Classic — You’ll find plenty of road cycling options at this late-August Peterborough-based tour.

riders start the Hurtin In Haliburton road cycling race
Whether in it for the personal challenge or to contend for the top spot, you're in fora ton of fun. Photo: Hurtin In Haliburton

September Ontario Cycling Events

4-8, 11-15, 18-22 Alvar Treasure — Discover the best of cycling on Manitoulin Island with this all-inclusive 5-day ride. The quiet roads and island scenery only get better during the cooler days of early autumn.

9 Discover L&A Ride — This 58-km ride through eastern Ontario starts and finishes in the quaint, rural community of Bath.

9 Prince Edward County Gran Fondo — The pastoral landscape of Prince Edward County in southeastern Ontario hosts 50-, 100- and 150-km Gran Fondo rides.

10 GTA GranFondo Epic Tour — While the longer distances (up to 165 km) are epic, this Gran Fondo-inspired event in Milton, Halton Hills and Burlington is designed for all ages and abilities.

15-16 8 Hours of Hurtin' in Haliburton — The title says it all, this marathon ride in the Haliburton Forest & Wildlife Reserve involves eight hours of gravel grinding. Race solo or in teams of two or three.

23 Toronto International Bicycle Show - Fall Blowout — This one-day event at the International Centre is your best chance to score a great deal on a new ride.

24 The Healing Cycle Ride — This group ride in Mississauga supports hospice care throughout Ontario. A virtual ride is also available.

30 The Growling Beaver Brevet — Sign up for a social ride in scenic Grey County, exploring communities in the Beaver Valley and along Georgian Bay with distances of 40 to 200 km. Proceeds support Parkinson Canada.

TBD Thousand Island Gran Fondo — Choose from three distances on this ride along the Thousand Islands Parkway between Ganonoque and Brockville.

TBD Limestone Century Bicycle Tour — You’ve got three choices in this popular annual road riding tour starting in Kingston: 50 and 100 km as well as a 100-mile route, all in support of the advocacy work of Kingston Cycle.

TBD Tour di Via Italia —This long-standing event is the oldest street race in Ontario, held in Southwestern Ontario.

TBD Thunder Grinder — Thunder Bay’s premier gravel cycling event traverses scenic Oliver Paipoonge Township, with challenging routes of 60 and 120 km.

TBD Tour Paramedic Ride – 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of this 550-km, fully supported road ride from Toronto to Ottawa. The event is all about supporting the essential role of paramedics, and it’s open to everyone.

TBD Tour de Headwaters — The Caledon Hills are the site of a fundraising ride suitable for all levels, in support of the Headwaters Health Care Foundation.

TBD Tour de Mississauga — You could be one of over 2,000 riders at this all ages, all levels event at the Mississauga Celebration Square. Rides range from 5 to 50 km.

TBD Pedal for Portage — Centre Wellington plays host to road rides in the Grand River valley, with proceeds supporting the Portage Centre for youth battling substance addiction.

TBD Tour the Hills — A friendly, one-day ride in Halton Hills explores the scenic countryside of Ontario’s Green Belt.

TBD The Beau's Oktoberfest Bike Ride — This fall event in eastern Ontario supports the United Way Ottawa’s efforts to assist youth in at-risk neighbourhoods.

TBD FAB Trails Festival — The Frontenac Arch Biosphere Network’s Trails Festival celebrates the rich biodiversity of Charleston Lake Provincial Park. Make it a multi-sport and combine cycling with paddling or hiking.

TBD The Campfire Ride — This ride at Hockley Valley Resort supports Camp Oochigeas’ efforts to provide summer camp experiences for kids with cancer. Choose between 70 km or 10 km rides.

cyclists ride down a gravel road in the Sea Otter Canada road cycling race
Pack in a full season of races and events. Photo: Sea Otter Canada

October Ontario Cycling Events

1 Bruce Peninsula Lighthouse Gravel Gran Fondo — The scenic Bruce Peninsula plays host to this great gravel grinder, with 115-km rides from Lion’s Head Lighthouse to Cabot Head Lighthouse and return, as well as shorter options of 30, 56 or 80 km.

TBD Greg’s Cycle for Kids — Come to Halton Hills in early October to participate in 50-, 100- or 140-km road rides to support youth cycling initiatives.

TBD Ride4UnitedWay Gran Fondo — Durham Region United Way hosts this fully supported road ride with distances from 60 to 160 km.

TBD Dam Cross — Enjoy two days of cyclocross racing at the Pittock Conservation Area in Oxford County, near Woodstock, Ontario.  

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About Conor Mihell

Conor Mihell is an award-winning environmental and adventure travel writer based in Sault Ste. Marie. Read his work in the Globe and Mail, Explore, Cottage Life, Canoe & Kayak, ON Nature, and other magazines and newspapers. He's been a sea kayak guide on Lake Superior for close to 20 years, and has paddled from Sault Ste. Marie to Thunder Bay. 

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