Lizzie Armitstead and Rebecca Romero were among 7,000 cyclists who turned out for the inaugural Daily Mirror Great Manchester Cycle on Monday June 4.
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The closed roads sportive, the UK’s largest timed cycling event, featured three different distances (13, 26 and 52 miles) based around a 13-mile city centre loop.
“I spend a lot of time in Manchester and to be able to explore the city in this way is something I really wanted to do,” said Armitstead, who will start this summer’s women’s Olympic road race among the favourites.
“It was a fantastic day and something I was delighted to be a part of.”
Olympic individual pursuit gold medallist Rebecca Romero added: “This event is so great because it’s a big sporting event but it has closed roads and that’s unique.”
“For people who cycle recreationally, to have this kind of structured event with a timing chip and to have the route mapped out, is a great opportunity to test themselves.”
Starting at Eastlands, the home of Manchester City FC, riders were set off in waves, with British Cycling members leading the way. The route includes a section on the city’s most well known motorway, the Mancunian Way – normally off limits to cyclists.
David Hart, communications director of organisers Nova International, said: “We were thrilled with the reaction to the Great Manchester Cycle, which in its first year, has become the UK’s biggest timed cycling event.
“With the three distances, it was a celebration of cycling on the closed roads of Manchester to suit different levels of ability and we believe this event has a hugely exciting future.”