Nationwide fundraising cycle ride visits Morecambe

The Great Tour, a 64-day, 6,700km awareness and fundraising cycle ride around the British coast, set off from Morecambe this morning.
The Great Tour cyclists in Morecambe before setting off on Day 40 of their ride, left to right Paul Hargreaves, Hugh Roberts and Robin Young.The Great Tour cyclists in Morecambe before setting off on Day 40 of their ride, left to right Paul Hargreaves, Hugh Roberts and Robin Young.
The Great Tour cyclists in Morecambe before setting off on Day 40 of their ride, left to right Paul Hargreaves, Hugh Roberts and Robin Young.

Robin Young and Hugh Roberts are aiming to ride around the entire coastline of Great Britain, having got underway from the Isle of Wight on Saturday July 4.

The pair arrived in Morecambe on Tuesday evening, having cycled 104km from Barrow in Furness, passing through Ulverston and Grange over Sands.

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Today, Wednesday, marks Day 40 of The Great Tour, with the pair riding just over 70km to Lytham St Annes, joined by Lancashire cyclist Paul Hargreaves for the day.

Commenting on the ride so far and visiting Morecambe, Hugh Roberts said: “Having completed over half of our circumnavigation around the British coast I’m reminded of the sense of absolute freedom and satisfaction that you get from riding along our unsurpassable richly varied coastlines.

“We enjoyed the fantastic views across Morecambe Bay yesterday and the weather this morning in Morecambe was magnificent so we’re looking forward to more views today.

“We are now looking forward to reaching Lytham St Annes tonight and going on to complete the rest of this cycling odyssey which I hope thousands more people will be able to enjoy in years to come.”

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Inspired by The Great Tour event that took place in 2010 and 2015, SweetSpot Founder and Managing Director Hugh Roberts and long-time friend Robin Young are re-creating the 6,700km, 64 day ride, filling the gap between when the Women’s Tour and Tour of Britain professional cycle races should have taken place, had they not been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This year’s ride aims to raise awareness and funds for chosen health charities and causes in 2020 and to help create an annual fundraising ride around a recognised and waymarked cycle route around the whole coastline of Britain from 2021 onwards.

From 2021 the Great Tour ride will be the fundraising flagship of The Great Tour, for which charitable status is being sought. This annual event will raise money to support projects or other charities in community, health and environmental charities and causes – all of which are consistent with the Great Tour's ethos.

Past editions of The Great Tour in 2010 and 2015 have supported a range of health charities, including The Prostate Cancer Charity, MacMillan and Anthony Nolan.

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The awareness ride will has the support of partners Ascot Lloyd, a leading UK independent financial advice firm, and a small support team equipped with ŠKODA support vehicles.

Following the coastline as closely as possible by bike, and never losing the sight, the sound, the smell of the sea or sense of the sea, The Great Tour route takes in 6,700km of roads, cycle paths and green lanes around the country in a celebration of Britain’s coastline.

More information about The Great Tour can be found here and you can find out more and donate via Just Giving here

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