Team Sky's Ben Swift will join stars of TV soap Emmerdale in raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support next month.
Swift will ride alongside Rik Makarem (who plays Nikhil Sharma), Kelvin Fletcher (Andy Sugden), James Thornton (John Barton), Tom Lister (Carl King) and the show's Executive Producer Steve November for their Emmerdale to Eastenders Cycle Challenge.
The riders will set off from the soap's Woolpack pub on August 19 at 6pm, and are aiming to complete the 224-mile ride to Albert Square's Queen Vic in just 24 hours.
They hope to raise £100,000 for the charity, and are riding in memory of their producer, Gavin Blyth, who died from cancer aged 41 last year.
Team Emmerdale cyclists James Thornton (John Barton), Rik Makarem (Nikhil Sharma), Kelvin Fletcher (Andy Sugden), Tom Lister (Carl King) and Executive Producer Steve November (Credit: Helen Turton)
Emmerdale actor James Thornton said: "None of us have cycled further than the local before, but thanks to all our sponsors providing us with fantastic kit, we're ready to take to the roads!"
To sponsor the team click here, or make a £5 donation by texting ‘RIDE66 £5' to 70070.
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Ron Spencer funeral details announced
Details of the funeral for Warrington RC president Ron Spencer have been announced.
Spencer passed away last Thursday (July 7) after suffering heart failure at his home.
Ron Spencer
The funeral will take place next Thursday (July 21) at St Joseph's RC Church, Meeting Lane, Penketh, WA5 2BB at 11.45pm, before the mourners are invited to gather at Fox Covert Cemetery, Red Lane, Appleton, WA4 5LA at 1pm.
Urban Hill Climb set for Thursday after record sell-out
Rollapaluza's record sell-out Urban Hill Climb will take place on next Thursday.
The event, which will be held up Swains Lane in Highgate, London, sold out in a record four minutes for the Senior Men category.
The Swains Lane climb rises 70m over its 900m length and passes the historic Highgate Cemetry, the burial place of Karl Marx. Last year's winning time was 1-32.86, by Chris Metcalfe of Matlock CC.
A total of one hundred and twenty four riders will take part in the event, which is expected to be well-attended by spectators. The first rider is off at 6.30pm, with the senior men's final at 9.10pm.
The event forms part of Rollapaluza's commitment to bring a more diverse range of cycling events to the capital, and is one of a number of new hill climb events that have emerged recently - including the Cobble Wobble, Red Bull Bristol Hill Climb and the Waller Pain Hill Climb.
A participant in last year's Rollapaluza Urban Hill Climb
Voss leads Endura charge in Czech Republic
Endura Racing enjoyed a successful Czech Cycling Tour (July 7-10), with German rider Paul Voss taking fourth overall after the team won the race's opening team time trial.
Voss finished 2-55 behind overall winner, Stainslav Kozubeck (PSK Whirlpool-Author), having lost time to the podium finishers on the race's hilly third stage.
The Endura team - comprising of Alexandre Blain, Evan Oliphant, Ian Wilkinson, Iker Camano, Jack Anderson, Maarten de Jonge and Voss - got off to the best possible start, winning the 24km team time trial around Olomouc by four seconds, which put Anderson in yellow for two days.
And Blain made up for a fall at the end of stage two by taking second on the final day of the race.
Rapha-Condor-Sharp were also riding with Dan Craven leading home John Herety's team to finish 14th overall, while Australian Zak Dempster finished eighth on the opening road stage into Prostejov.
Related links
British news round-up, July 8: Rowe builds for U23 Euros
British news round-up, July 1: Wilkinson reflects on wonderful 24 record
British news round-up, June 24: Best of British sign up for Leazes Crit
British news round-up, June 17: Endura talent Thwaites reflects on first Tour Series
British news round-up, June 10: Riders head to London for the IG Markets NocturneBritish news round-up, June 3: Endura and Motorpoint vow to hit back at Tour Series
British news round-up, May 27: More details of London test event emerge
British news round-up, May 20: Rowe goes close in Holland
British news round-up, May 6: Brammeier: "The novelty will never wear off"
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