Triumphant riders celebrate reaching a rare downhill stretch of the challenging route.(Image credit: Daniel Simms)
Riders take their places at the start line for the 145km ride.(Image credit: Daniel Simms)
British road race champion Kristian House prepares for the 145km leg of The Prostate Cancer Charity ride.(Image credit: Daniel Simms)
A wave from one rider as a pack of cyclists head off on The Prostate Cancer Charity ride in good spirits.(Image credit: Daniel Simms)
The grueling terrain proves too much for one saddle sore rider.(Image credit: Daniel Simms)
Great Britain's road race champion Kristian House led a field of more than 1,200 cyclists for 'The Tour of Britain' charity ride at the weekend. Entrants rode the 145 kilometres that will make up this month’s Tour of Britain’s stage five to race money for prostate cancer.
“Anything that gets people on bikes is a good thing and this is a fantastic event,” said House. “Obviously, the cause, fighting prostate cancer, is a very important one and I will do anything to support that if I can. To ride the route of the Stoke-on-Trent leg of The Tour of Britain is really good practice for me and its great to do it with so many people.
“Last year the finish in Stoke, right in the city centre, was unreal,” he added. “The crowds were so loud and enthusiastic. To race in a city where I used to live in front of people who have supported me is really special.”
Riders set off at from the gantry outside the iconic Britannia Football stadium, home of Stoke City Football Club. Participants took between five and seven hours to completed the course, which will be covered by some of the world’s best cyclist in a fortnight and features 2006 metres of climbing.
Two smaller routes - the 70km Challenge Ride or 20km Family Ride - were also contested by those not up to the full 145 kilometres. More than £150,000 was raised for The Prostate Cancer Charity. The seven day Tour of Britain starts this Saturday.
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