For the last three years one of the riding highlights has been a preview ride over the route of what was, until last year, known as the Highclere Castle sportive but which for 2010 is known as the UCI Magnificat.

Not only does organiser Ken Robson lay on refreshments the equal of those served on the day of the sportive itself, but he generally manages to attract, to accompany the journos foolish or egotistical enough to turn up, a selection of riders willing to push the pace along fast enough to make the preview significantly harder than the ride proper.

Last year, he also laid on a tracker system to allow the progress of the preview ride to be followed in real time, which wasn’t so much fun for the participant who turned around halfway up the first climb and went home with his tracker chip still attached to his bike…

This year we again have tracker chips attached for the ride, which can be followed at : http://spectator.mylaps.com/44888. No laughing if I get blown out the back.

Based at Newbury Racecourse and sponsored by Verenti Bikes, Torq and Mavic, the UCI Magnificat ride itself takes place on 13th June and offers a choice of three routes over 126, 80 and 51 miles.

Full event details including online registration may be found at www.cyclegb.co.uk