 Stoke City kick-off |
 Kristian House awaits the start |
 A fun time… |
 …for all |
National Champion rides charity event
In a UK first, more than 1,200 cyclists from all over Great Britain, including National Road Race Champion Kristian House, got on their bikes on Sunday 6 September 2009 to take on a gruelling leg of The Tour of Britain.
Riders set off at 08:00hrs from bebeath the gantry outside the iconic Britannia Football stadium, home of Stoke City Football Club, for The Prostate Cancer Charity Tour Ride. They would take on the exact professional route that will be undertaken by the world’s top professional cyclists in less than two weeks as part of the UK’s premier cycling event, The Tour of Britain.
Regarded as one of the most arduous legs of the tour, the route of Stage 5 used for the Prostate Charity ride climbed a total of 2006 metres. Some participants in the ride resorted to walking up the notorious Gun Hill, a long steep climb tackled just after passing Tittesworth Reservoir.
Others opted for the 70km Challenge Ride route or the 20km Family Ride at the event, which has already raised more than £150,000 for the charity’s work to fight prostate cancer by investing in research, offering support and information and campaigning. Lots of spectators turned up to support the cyclists as they took on one of the hardest sportives in the country.
National Champion House, 29, a former resident of Stoke-on-Trent and professional rider for the Rapha Condor cycling team, said: “Anything that gets people on bikes is a good thing and this is a fantastic event. Obviously, the cause, fighting prostate cancer, is a very important one and I will do anything to support that if I can. To ride the route of the Stoke-on-Trent leg of The Tour of Britain is really good practice for me and its great to do it with so many people. Last year the finish in Stoke, right in the city centre, was unreal. The crowds were so loud and enthusiastic. To race in a city where I used to live in front of people who have supported me is really special.”
The event was staged as part of a new initiative called UniteByCycling, which features a range of cycling events, involving both professional cyclists and the general public. The activity is focussed around the Charity’s partnership with The Tour of Britain and the hosting of two special mass participation events in September. Following this event in Stoke-on-Trent, there is also another opportunity for people to get on their bikes in support of the Charity and ride the final London leg, around iconic landmarks of the capital in front of an expected 100,000 spectators.
John Neate, Chief Executive of The Prostate Cancer Charity, said: “This is the first year of our partnership with the Tour of Britain – and we have been delighted with the turnout to our inaugural mass participation event in Stoke-on-Trent. To see cyclists, from professionals in the Rapha Condor team, such as Kristian House, to families, at the start line, shows that people, whatever their ability, are getting behind our mission to urge people to ‘unite by cycling’ to help fight prostate cancer. It has been a fantastic day and I send my congratulations to everyone who completed the ride.”
Kevin Nash, Event Director of The Tour of Britain, said: “This is the first year of The Tour Ride in Stoke-on-Trent and the turnout has been tremendous. This is testament to the UniteByCycling partnership between The Tour of Britain and The Prostate Cancer Charity, where we are bringing people together on their bicycles while fighting for a good cause. To have the likes of Kristian House, National Road Race Champion, turn up is testament to the fact that we are doing the right thing.”
Tony Scholes, Chief Executive of Stoke City Football Club, said: “It is fantastic to be able to stage an event like this at the Britannia Stadium. The tour ride is a great concept, staged in support of The Prostate Cancer Charity. It is great to raise awareness of this disease by staging a fun and exciting event like this. We now look forward to the start of the Tour of Britain at the stadium on 16 September.”
