US rider enters race in 'wrong' Birmingham

Now here’s a man who knows how to make the best of things. The immaculately-named John Hoopingarner, from Ohio, entered last weekend’s Velo Birmingham thinking it was an event in Alabama. After realising his mistake, he booked a flight and rode it anyway.

He explained his reasoning to the BBC thus: "Well I made it this far, I may as well just go".

Hoopingarner was impressed too and having been promised free entry, he says he’s likely to return.

"Birmingham was the coolest place I've been to in the UK yet," he said. "It was really fabulous.

"The people are great, the town's awesome, the guys that did the ride were really tremendous. It was a brilliant event.

"I am hoping to come back next year. I've been promised free entry so I'm tempted to take [the organisers] up on it."

Hoopingarner has also taken the opportunity to visit Edinburgh and London while he’s over and plans to go to Dublin as well.

Velo Birmingham saboteurs fail to spoil day for riders and locals