Cycling event is set to break all records

May 15 2009 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

ALMOST 4000 cyclists will flock to Highland Perthshire from across the globe for the Macmillan Cancer Support Etape Caledonia on Sunday.

Record-breaking cycling star Mark Beaumont (26), who took just 194 days to cycle 18,296 miles around the world last year, told the PA this year’s Etape – which begins and ends in Pitlochry – will provide a stiff test for the 3740 competitors.

The Bridge of Cally man said: “I started the Etape last year and was involved in a 70-mile test of the event this time around.

“It’s a very hilly, difficult route but it’s a good one. What I like about it most is that it gives a chance for members of the public to mix with elite level athletes, it’s wonderful.

“And obviously being brought up in Perthshire means it has a special significance to me,” he said.

An independent survey revealed that the 2008 challenge boosted local coffers by £416,885.

This year’s massive entry will dwarf last year’s edition, which attracted 1900 participants and around 6000 spectators.

Contributing to the race’s multi-national feel, 1700 of this year’s entrants are coming from England, with 20 cyclists travelling from abroad – including Ricardo Nogare, a former Brazilian cycling champion.

Ricardo has his sights firmly fixed on the winning mark set by Veli Raikkonen last year – just shy of three hours and 40 minutes.

He said: “I started training for the event a few weeks ago and I’m expecting to finish within a 4 hour slot.

“If I think I have a chance of winning, I’ll definitely try to seize the title,” he said.

John Kellas, Perth and Kinross Council’s enterprise and infrastructure committee convener, said that closing off the Highland Perthshire roads has caused some animosity towards the event in the past.

But he told the PA that shifting the race’s start time to earlier in the morning means that the benefits far outweigh any drawbacks.

He said: “The Etape is a wonderful fillip for the whole area. There were 800 participants when it first started and now there are over 3500 – it is now a major worldwide cycling event.

“There have been problems in the past, both with issues over road closures and some parts of the region feeling slightly excluded.

“But we have tried to address this by moving the start time and creating spin-off events inAberfeldy.

“The benefits are far-reaching, from showcasing the area to filling up most of the local hotels and guest houses,” he said.