Three weeks on from the Friends Life Tour of Britain cycle race, Mark Cavendish will be back on British roads this October as he takes part in the Friends Life Tour Ride 100, his official sportive.
Unlike in the Friends Life Tour of Britain, where the world's top cyclists are racing, this time members of the public have the chance to join the former British and World Champion in the ride, which starts from Stoke-on-Trent on Sunday 5 October.
The Friends Life Tour Ride, which is also the official annual sportive of the Friends Life Tour of Britain and Mark Cavendish, starts and finishes from Staffordshire University's Stoke-on-Trent campus, with over 1,000 amateur cyclists set to take part.
And joining them will be Cavendish himself, who will be riding alongside cyclists in the 50-mile Challenge Route, as well as being present at the start and finish to get the 100-mile Pro Route underway.
Cavendish said, "I'm super happy about partnering with the Friends Life Tour Ride 100 event for my inaugural sportive. Our aim is for this event to become the premier sportive in the UK in the coming years. This route holds some very strong memories for me in my early years as an amateur rider so it's poignant that this is the location of the first year of my official sportive.”
Entrants to the Friends Life Tour Ride can also look forward to two specific Strava challenges with a range of prizes up for grabs, plus other chances to win, including prizes from CVNDSH and Oakley.
Alongside Cavendish, taking part will also be large team entries from Friends Life Tour of Britain partners Friends Life and YodelDirect, plus riders fundraising for 2014 Official Charity Partners Action Medical Research and Right to Play.
To enter, riders can head to www.tourride.co.uk and click Enter, with entries costing £35 and including the full Friends Life Tour of Britain experience, complete with finish straight, gantry and podium, plus Neutral Service support from Specialized, full stocked feed stations on route thanks to Enervit and Soreen plus an exclusive Friends Life Tour Ride t-shirt and medal to all finishers.
Cyclists can also sign-up via the Friends Life Tour Ride stand, D63, at the Cycle Show at Birmingham's NEC this week from Thursday 25th to Sunday 28th September, with a prize draw and goody bags on offer for anyone who signs-up during the four days. For more information on the Show, visit www.cycleshow.co.uk