Olympic cycling star at Clitheroe charity ride

The Team GB Olympic gold medallist and Team Sky professional will finish riding in this year’s Tour de France the weekend before the charity cycle challenge, in aid of children’s charity Action Medical Research. He will welcome people back at the end of the new ride.

There are still places available on the ride and Action Medical Research hopes local cyclists will take up the challenge and join visiting riders taking part in the event. There is a choice of a 100-mile or a 100km route. Both are scenic and hilly, heading out into the Yorkshire Dales and taking in areas of Bowland and Gisburn Forests, Malhamdale and the Ribble Valley, as well as part of southern Cumbria on the longer version.

Geraint Thomas, who is the charity’s Cycling Ambassador, said: “We take it for granted that most kids will learn to ride a bike one day, however sadly that’s not the case. Action Medical Research funds vital work to help children affected by disease and disabilities, who struggle with everyday life. I’m really looking forward to being part of this new event. There are still places available so please join me for a fantastic day out on the bike.”

Cyclists participating in the Cross Pennine 100 will be raising money to help fund medical research into conditions affecting babies and children. Among work the charity is currently funding is research at Manchester’s St Mary’s Hospital which aims to develop better ways to identify and diagnose severe types of learning disabilities.

The event is fully supported, with feed stations and buffet lunch, moto marshals, mechanics and chip timing. It is part of the charity’s popular RIDE100 series of one-day bike rides taking place in stunning cycling locations around the UK.

For more information about the Cross Pennine 100 and to register, visit the website www.action.org.uk/crossp