Action Medical Research will use the London Bike Show, which opens at the Excel Centre today, to showcase its 2012 rides.

The children’s charity is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2012 and recently formed a partnership with Trek to support its popular Ride100 and Diva100 events.

The charity’s flagship London to Paris tour (July 18-22) heads up the calendar, with a new women-only route for 2012, alongside three alternative routes open to all riders, including a three-day option for faster riders. The 300-mile ride sees 600 cyclists arrive in Paris in time for the final stage of the Tour de France, riding in convoy down the Champs Elysees the day before the race arrives.

The Ride L’Etape (September 6-9) will provide the toughest challenge on the schedule. Replicating stage 19 from last year’s Tour de France, the 116km ride through the French Alps tackles three of the Tour’s most notorious climbs – Col du Télégraphe, Col du Galibier and Alpe d’Huez, all timed to add to the Tour experience.

Also new is Morocco Bike or Hike (July 5-9), offering a mountain biking challenge in the Atlas Mountains or, for those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground, a trek to the summit of Mount Toubkal, the region’s highest peak, overlooking the Sahara Desert.

Back on home soil, the women-only Diva100 series has been extended to include new events in Scotland and the Midlands in addition to the original ride in Sussex, all taking place in May and offering 100km or 50km route options.

The charity’s Ride100 also continues to offer a range of one-day regional UK rides in stunning cycling locations, including the Lake District, Peak District and Scotland’s Trossachs mountains. All Ride100 events are chip timed and offer both 100-mile and 100km routes.

Meanwhile, the UK End2End tackles Land’s End to John O’ Groats in nine days, and the Ride24 endurance relay sees teams race day and night for 24 hours at the classic Goodwood Motor Circuit.

Team Sky rider and Action ambassador Geraint Thomas said: “2012 is a huge year for me as I get ready to compete in the home Olympics, and it’s also a really special year for Action Medical Research as the charity celebrates its 60th anniversary.

“I was four years old when I first learnt to ride a bike but sadly some children never get that chance. So I hope everyone will support me when I go for gold but I also hope people will support Action Medical Research by taking on one of its fantastic cycling challenges this year to help fund more life-changing research for some of the UK’s sickest babies and children.”

Money raised by the charity through its cycling programme helps fund vital medical research into conditions affecting babies and children. Research currently being supported by Action Medical Research includes work around meningitis, epilepsy, cerebral palsy and premature birth, as well as some very rare and distressing conditions that severely affect children.

For more information visit stand LB125 at the London Bike Show or head to www.action.org.uk/cycling