GALLERY: More than 1,500 cyclists battle hills and changeable weather to take part in the Dartmoor Classic Sportive

MORE than 1,500 cyclists from all around the country hit the roads around Devon on Sunday as part of the annual Dartmoor Classic Sportive.

The event, organised and run by the Mid-Devon Cycling Club, is one of the most prestigious open-road mass-participation cycling events in the UK.

Cyclists compete over a choice of three routes – Grande (107 miles and 9,100ft elevation), Medio (66.6 miles and 6,000ft elevation) and Piccolo (46 miles and 3,646ft of elevation).

All the routes start and finish at Newton Abbot Racecourse.

The famous ‘Grande’ race takes riders to Bovey Tracey, Ashburton, Dartmeet, Two Bridges, Tavistock, Lydford, Chillaton, Dousland, Princetown, Postbridge, Moretonhampstead, Dunsford and back to Newton Abbot.

It takes in some of the most stunning scenery to be found in and around Dartmoor National Park, but also features some of the toughest cycling routes in the country.

This year’s event also treated cyclists to all the types of weather that Dartmoor can offer, from sunshine to mist to torrential rain.

The fastest finisher of the ‘Grande’ was George King, who completed the 107 miles in five hours, 12 minutes and 56 seconds.

Over-40 rider Nicolas Roche was just a second slower, clocking 5:12.57. Plymouth Corinthian’s Gordon Markus was third M40.

Lara Cosford was fastest woman, finishing in 6:38.00, with F50 rider Andrea Woolcott second in 6:45.03.

More than 500 riders completed the longest distance event.

Meanwhile, more than 800 cyclists finished the ‘Medio’, with East London’s M40 Tristan Vetta quickest in 3:26.55.

Second was fellow M40 rider Gerard Watts, who came home in a time of 3:27.13.

Holly-Mei Jones was first woman over the middle distance event, finishing in a quick 3:50.12.

Junior Josh Ernest was fastest over the ‘Piccolo’ course. He clocked 2:33.46, with M50 rider Paul Harvey second in 2:40.04.

Victoria Hindley was first woman in 2:53.17, while Tavistock Wheelers’ Rachel Malthouse was second F40.

The ‘e-Piccolo’ was won by Deborah Leatt, who finished in 2:37.27.

Full results can be found HERE.

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