More than 530 cyclists from all over the UK have already signed up to take part in Derby’s Spring Classic Sportive on Sunday May 1.
Entries are still open for the Sportive and the response from cyclists of all ages and abilities has been welcomed by Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre, along with Macmillan Cancer Support, who are the charity recipients of the sponsorship raised by event.
The Spring Classic Sportive will be the first key fund raising event in the Holiday Centre’s 125th anniversary year and will be followed by the North Derbyshire Challenge on Sunday September 18.
The charity is aiming to raise an additional £150,000 to enable the centre in Skegness to take an extra 250 to 270 youngsters for five-day breaks on the east coast. This is in addition to the 450 who already go there every year.
Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre Chairman Bill Tomlinson said: “We are obviously delighted with the response by keen cyclists across the city, county and beyond who have signed up to take part in the Sportive and who have nominated to raise money for our charity.
“We are grateful to the organisers Cycle Derby and HUUB Events for supporting our fund raising efforts during our anniversary year.
“Our aim is to enable more deserving young people, some of whom are having trouble in their home lives and who may never even have had a holiday, to enjoy a much needed break by the sea, and create a sustainable future for the centre.”
The Spring Classic on Sunday May 1 will start and finish at Markeaton Park. Riders will take on one of three routes – 40km, 80km or 160km around Derbyshire and East Staffordshire.
The Radleigh Homes 40k community event is ideal for cycling beginners and families on a circular route around Longford and Sutton-on-the-Hill.
The 80km route takes riders out towards Barton Under Needwood and back to Stapenhill to join the main route back to the park’s event village.
Riders on the 160km route will cover a new route towards Blithfield Reservoir and climbing over Cannock Chase before heading back into Derbyshire, past Repton and along Radbourne Lane to Markeaton Park.
Teams are also invited to enter the Geldards Team Distance Challenge. This is an opportunity for teams of four or more riders to combine distances in an attempt to travel the furthest over one sportive.
Mark Smith from Cycle Derby said: “The Spring Classic Sportive is set to be the biggest ever cycling event in Derby and we hope that riders will raise as much money for the two recipient charities as they can.
“The Spring Classic Sportive has something for everyone with three different distance routes.
“As well as seasoned cyclists, we are attracting a lot of people and young families who are new to the sport which meets our objective of getting more people active”.
Claire Duffin is Event Director for HUUB Events which was launched last year by triathlon wetsuit and apparel company HUUB Design, founded and owned by local entrepreneur Dean Jackson.
She continued: “The response in the past couple of months since we opened entries for the Sportive shows that Derby is well and truly a cycling city.
“Entries are also coming in from cyclists from further afield which is great news for the city as they come here with their family and friends for an enjoyable day out.”
To enter the Spring Sportive, visit www.cyclederbysportive.co.uk. Every 50th entrant will receive a spot prize.