The Cheshire Cat cyclosportive, which runs on the 30th March 2008, has put measures in place to cater for an increase in participant numbers. 500 entries have already been received since opening just before Christmas – more than last year’s total entries. Pre-entered riders will be able to sign-on at Knutford’s Leisure Centre both on the day of the ride and on the Saturday afternoon beforehand.

This year “The Cat” gets UCI status – so expect top-level organisation at the first cyclosportive in the north of the country to be UCI sanctioned.

Many of last year’s riders have entered again and are looking forward to the challenge of the 1-in-4 (25%) Mow Cop climb on the Staffordshire-Cheshire border, which nearly a third of riders stopped on or walked up in last year’s fine dry spring weather. This year every rider who doesn’t walk, stop or put a foot to the ground gets a special award.

Event organisers kilotogo.com say riders shouldn’t be put off by Mow Cop’s 1 in 4 gradient. Its reputation now exceeds its difficulty according to kilotogo.com‘s Geoff Saxon “With two route options, the Cheshire Cat is indeed a challenging ride in rural Cheshire, but it caters for a wide range of abilities. The short option misses Mow Cop, Blacky Bank and Bridestones. We avoided putting in too many tough hills – after all it’s March and it’s almost 100 miles if you choose the long route”.

More details of the Cheshire Cat at www.kilotogo.com