Places on 2012 Deloitte Ride Across Britain up for grabs at static bike challenge in London next week

Cyclists in the City of London are next week being offered a chance to set the fastest time over 250 metres on a static Watt bike and win a place on September’s Deloitte Ride Across Britain (RAB) worth £1,740. Two places are on offer to the male and female cyclists setting the quickest times.

The City 250 Challenge, which takes place at Finsbury Avenue Square in Broadgate, adjacent to Liverpool Street Station, from 7am to 7pm next Wednesday 8 February, is open to individuals as well as teams of three people from individual companies, with members of the fastest team each standing to win a set of Deloitte RAB kit.

There will also be a prize draw to win a Boardman Carbon Pro bike worth £1,999, with two runners-up winning Deloitte RAB jerseys.

The event is similar to the IG Markets Square Mile Challenge in November 2010, also held at Broadgate and pitting members of the public against Team Sky riders, which had to be abandoned early when one participant suffered a suspected heart attack.

Deloitte RAB co-founder James Cracknell, the Olympic champion rower turned TV host and adventurer, will be joined at the event by Beijing individual pursuit gold medallist Rebecca Romero and two-time Paralympic champion athlete, Danny Crates.

The Deloitte RAB itself seeks to raise money for the British Paralympic Association (BPA), with a fundraising target of £1 million by 2013. This year’s ride, in which 700 cyclists will attempt to ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats in nine days, takes place from 8-16 September and all but 100 places have been filled.

Talking of next Wednesday’s event, Cracknell said: “The Deloitte Ride Across Britain ‘City 250 Challenge’ is a rare chance for workers in the City to show us what they’re made of.

“Riding the iconic ‘end to end’ route is the ultimate UK cycle challenge and I’m looking forward to finding who has got what it takes to join us in September on the start-line to help raise money for generations of future Paralympic champions”.

Tim Hollingsworth, CEO of the BPA, added: “London 2012 presents a great opportunity for the BPA to help change perceptions of disability, through the incredible performances of our athletes.

“Deloitte Ride Across Britain is really important in helping us to provide the best possible preparations for ParalympicsGB ahead of the home Games, leaving no stone unturned to ensure the athletes are able to perform at their best when it matters most.

“At the same time, it is also part of our longer term fundraising ambition to improve opportunities for disabled people across the UK to get into sport. I hope lots of people are able to come down to the speed challenge and experience a little of what Deloitte Ride Across Britain is about. We are really proud to be the charity partner to this event.”

Further information, including details of how to sign up for this year’s Deloitte Ride Across Britain, can be found on the event website.