Road cycling
60 miles | 100 miles
Sunday 28th June 2026
Cyclists leave from 8am, last to return around 6pm
All bikes inc e-bikes welcome. It’s not a sportive, not chip timed & not a race!
£50.00 (until Thursday 25th June)
Start and finish at Topsham Rugby Club
1,500 capacity
14 years of age (18 unaccompanied)
Celebrate your achievement back at Topsham Rugby Club with your family and friends
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More and more people are being diagnosed with cancer every year and that means a growing demand for support from FORCE. Could you help us meet the need for the sort of care only FORCE can offer here in Devon? Choose to register and fundraise for The Nello this year to provide vital funds for those dealing with a cancer diagnosis. |
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More and more people are being diagnosed with cancer every year and that means a growing demand for support from FORCE.
Could you help us meet the need for the sort of care only FORCE can offer here in Devon?
We expect to see an extra 150 people affected by cancer in 2026. It costs an average of £850 to support each person on their cancer journey.
FORCE provides a wide range of free services including specialist information and advice, counselling, complementary therapies, advice on keeping active, support with hair loss, benefits advice, relaxation and mindfulness courses, art groups and programmes to help people move on after treatment or cope with cancers that can’t be cured.
To care for 150 more people, we need to raise an extra £127,500.
And we believe our Nello cyclists are the very people we can rely on to rise to that challenge.
We’re proud to have you as part of The Nello in 2026 and we want to thank you for your support of this unique event.
The classic 100-mile pedal from Topsham, over the roof of Exmoor and back, is one of the highlights of the annual cycling calendar, offering great scenery, superb climbs and far-reaching views.
The 60-mile route, splitting from the 100-miler in Tiverton, heads across the county and offers the chance to enjoy scenic country roads and a superb break at Nomansland. The camaraderie on both routes is fantastic!
Cyclists set off on the morning of The Nello from 8am and we ask that you ensure you can complete your chosen route in 10 hours to be sure you can return to Topsham by 6pm.
There will be signs around the course and you can also get a route card at registration. We highly recommend you download on to a device in preparation for the day.
FREE parking at Topsham Rugby Club, although limited. Please plan your travel ahead.
Tea & coffee at the start with breakfast from The Jack in the Green
Route card and signposted route
Feed stations – water / tea & coffee / filled rolls / flapjack / fruit / cake / crisps
Post-ride massage from ReBalance Injury Clinic
Breathtaking views of Devon
Bike support from Bike Shed
Professional First Aid cover
100% recycled finisher’s medal
Club bar and food vans (food and drink purchases not included in entry fee)
In 1997 Nello Ghezzo and Marc Millon, great friends who loved to cycle together, wanted to do something significant to raise money for FORCE Cancer Charity. So, they cycled from their home town of Topsham to Venice, raising an incredible £20,000.
On Christmas Eve 1998 Nello was diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer and after months of a brutal treatment regime, he sadly died.
At his funeral, Marc pledged to create a cycle ride in Nello’s memory and continue raising money to support the work of FORCE.
The Nello is the remarkable lasting legacy of that friendship, passion and commitment. Since it was first held in 2000, the ride has raised a staggering £1.5million to support people in Devon dealing with a cancer diagnosis.
The classic 100-mile route that you may know and love (well parts of it!) is based on the training rides Marc and Nello used to prepare for their Venice trip and remains an important part of all things Nello to this day.
If you’ve ridden with us before, you’ll know that food is integral to making The Nello such a special event. Nello was a restaurateur in Topsham and we further honour his memory with the quality – and quantity – of the food that sustains our cyclists throughout their challenge.
Yes, free parking is available at Topsham Rugby Club for the duration of the ride, although it is limited.
The Nello ride is not chipped timed.
8am if you are on the 100 mile route.
8:15am if on the 60 mile route.
Yes. Bike Shed will be on hand should you have any mechanical issues. Medical support will also be available.
Yes absolutely. We welcome family and friends to come and see you off and back in at Topsham Rugby Club. Family and friends are more than welcome to follow you on the course but please be mindful of all riders. Please join us in celebrating the fantastic achievement of our cyclists with lots of food, drink and activities at Topsham Rugby Club.
Dogs are not allowed onsite at the rugby club.
The route is fully signed from start to finish. You will also be given a route card to follow.
There are maps on our website if you wish to try the route ahead of the event.
Yes. This is compulsory.
Yes. We welcome all bikes.
14 is the minimum age. If under 18, you must be accompanied by an adult who is taking part. All under 18s will be asked to provide a parental consent form. Please refer to our Terms and Conditions for more information.
There are toilets available at the start and at all refreshment stops on both routes.
Food stations approximately every 20 miles.
Food vans will be available at Topsham Rugby Club from midday.
Approximately one week out from the ride date you will receive, via email, confirmation of final instructions. Please also see the event pack for all on the day information – view here
You are able to register on the day of The Nello although we advise you sign up beforehand to ensure you get your wristband in the post.
If you wish to sign up on the day, please come to Topsham Rugby Club between 7am – 7:45am.
Registration costs £55 and you can pay cash or by card (although cash is easier). Please come to the FORCE trailer to sign up.
When you arrive, please head to the registration tent so that we can check you in. You will also receive your route card and any further instructions regarding the route, for example, if there have been any last minutes changes.
Yes but only until three weeks before event date. Please log into your Enthuse dashboard (via your registration email) to transfer your place. If you have any issues, get in touch with the fundraising team on thenello@forcecancercharity.co.uk or 01392 402875. Unfortunately, we cannot transfer your place to someone else after this date.
Yes but only until 31st May 2026. Please see our cancellation terms and conditions. Unfortunately we cannot offer a refund after this date.
Yes but only until three weeks before event date. Please log into your Enthuse dashboard (via your registration email) to transfer your place. If you have any issues, get in touch with the fundraising team on thenello@forcecancercharity.co.uk or 01392 402875. Unfortunately, we cannot defer your place to someone else after this date.
We understand that due to injury or other circumstances you may not be able to keep your place in The Nello. However this does incur costs for the charity, particularly the nearer to the event we get. In order to be as accommodating as possible we offer a range of cancellation options. Read our full Terms and Conditions here.
Unfortunately you are not allowed to park your motorhome on site due to space around the club. We advise you to check out local campsites.
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The 2025 FORCE Impact Report is out now with the latest news on how we support local people dealing with a cancer diagnosis and how your generosity helps us to do that.
Read more