Riders prepare for annual charity Viking Challenge
Cyclists are gearing up to take part in the 32nd Viking Challenge on Sunday, with the route starting and finishing at Redmile Primary School.
The event started back in 1995 with 98 cyclists pedalling along the course but this weekend more than 1,000 will be at the start line, with the first wave heading off at 8.30am.
Participants have three options for the event – 30km for those aged eight and above, 55km for cyclists 14 and older or the gruelling 65km, for which they must be 16 and over.
The riders will be covering local sections of the Viking Way, which is a 147-mile route which stretches from the banks of the River Humber, through Lincoln, and ends in Rutland.
It is so named because it goes over the area occupied by Norse invaders in the ninth century.
All proceeds are split each year between Redmile CofE Primary School and a nominated charity – the event has raised over £500,000 for the school and more than 20 causes since it was launched.
An army of 200 volunteers help organise it every year, including staff and children from the school, marshalling, serving in the food and directing cyclists along the course.
Riders must register on the day to pick up their bike number – they are advised to go through to the school grounds and into the marquee to sign in, between 8am and 9.45am, with cyclists going off in waves during the morning.
Go to www.vikingchallenge.org.uk to enter the event and to find out more information about it.