Around 500 cyclists achieved a hat-trick of aims as the city’s Starley Sportive helped raise around £13,000 for charity.
The sportive – named after the Coventry men who invented the modern bicycle – was one of the first mass participation events celebrating the city’s 12 months as European City of Sport.
Riders, who set off from the headquarters of Coventry firm Deeley Group on Coventry Business Park took on one of three courses – a 28.6 mile route, a 63.2 mile long-distance ride, or an epic 86.5 mile challenge – in the event’s biggest ever field.
This year riders who took part in the event, which was organised Coventry Road Club, and supported by property company Deeley Group, raised money for a wide range of charities but Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice was the official charity for the day.
Ian Court, Race Secretary at Coventry Road Club, said the event had been a real celebration of the reasons why Coventry was European City of Sport.
“This was a mass participation event in every sense. We had some very good riders who did the longest course, while others just wanted to on a bike to help a good cause,” he said.
“It allowed riders to blow away those winter cobwebs, raise money for charity and also celebrated will be a memorable year for the city.”
This year’s event had been expanded to 500 and there was a waiting list, while some commemorative kit which was produced for the club had sold out.
Edward Hudson, Business Development Manager at the Deeley Group, said: “The day could not have gone better. The weather was really kind to the riders, we had great help from a huge number of volunteers and everyone came back with smiles on their faces and gave great feedback from the event.
“This year is also Coventry’s Year of Wellbeing, and the event underlined just how important exercise is in helping people say fit physically and mentally.
“There was a real energy on the day and very much a sense of collective achievement.”
The race was stared by Lord Mayor Councillor John Blundell and BBC Coventry and Warwickshire’s Vic Minnett.
Coventry City Councillor Kamran Caan, Cabinet Member Public Health and Sport, was also there to see the riders on their way.
He said: “Cycling has so many benefits from a physical and mental point of view, and obviously it is a very green form of transport. The Starley Sportive is a great event and I was delighted that it sold out in our year as City of Sport. It really was inspiring to see so many people making such an effort for so many good causes.”
