Honiton Cycle Ride sets 'Pre-Tour of Britain Challenge'

The pro cyclists will be out in force next month for the Tour of Britain – but cyclists in Honiton can experience a 50 mile ‘Pre-Tour of Britain Challenge’. And riders will be using part of the route that the official tour riders will follow a week later.

The annual Honiton Cycle Ride takes place on Sunday, September 13 and will be an exciting day out for families and cycling enthusiasts. But the brand new Pre-Tour challenge will allow competitors to experience some of the road their heroes will be racing on when the elite event comes to Devon the following week.

There will also be five and 27 mile cycle routes around Honiton, as well as musical entertainment and a barbecue at the Wyndham Arms at Kentisbeare, which is on all the cycle routes on the day and the event is in aid of local charity Hospiscare.

It is open to cyclists of all ages and abilities, and the five mile route is recommended for beginners and children. The longer route will pass through Plymtree, and Kentisbeare and back via Awliscombe.

The Pre-Tour of Britain Challenge, which is over 50 miles long and designed for experienced cyclists, will start at Honiton and pass through Cullompton, Halberton and Tiverton using the actual roads on the Tour of Britain route, then return to Honiton via Kentisbeare.

Entry for all routes is £5 for adults and £2 for under 16s and all routes start from the Otter Inn at Weston at 10.30am. All entrants will be entered into a free draw to win one of two bikes. Further information on how to register is available at www.honitoncyclerides.co.uk, 01404 47211 or 01404 47535.

The Tour of Britain, sponsored by Highland Spring, itself starts in Scunthorpe on September 12 and finishes on Whitehall, London, on September 19 and includes 16 elite professional teams, including AG2R La Mondiale, Agritubel, Barloworld, CandiTV – Marshalls Pasta, Team Columbia – HTC, CSF Navigare Team, Halfords Bikehut, Rapha – Condor, Topsport Vlaanderen

And earlier this week race organisers announced that three-time Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins will compete in this year's event.