Le Mans 24 Hour cycling race prize for winners of RIDE24

Posted Tuesday 19th February 2013 –

Teams taking part in this year’s RIDE24 – the original and best 24-hour non-stop endurance cycle race – will also be competing for a free team place in the prestigious French “24 Heures Vélo” at the legendary Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans, France. A British Cycling registered event, RIDE24 will be held Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 September at Thruxton Motor Circuit – the fastest track in the UK. RIDE24 racers will take on the 2.4 mile smooth circuit, with long sweeping bends, in a test of endurance, tactics and sheer determination.

The team with the most laps covered in 24 hours will win the coveted RIDE24 winner’s team title, held for two years by a team from the University of Birmingham. The winning team will also secure themselves a free place in the 2014 French 24 Heures Velo in Le Mans.

Xavier Disley, captain of the RIDE24 reigning champions’ team from the University of Birmingham, says: “Having done RIDE24 twice now, the organisation and experience just keeps getting better and better. The friendly staff and competitors are definitely welcome when you’re 17 hours in and really feeling the fatigue!”

“This year promises to be more of the same and we would recommend RIDE 24 to everyone – especially as the winners get the chance to ride at the 24 Heures Vélo in Le Mans, an amazing experience with 400-plus teams, a taxing circuit, warm weather and some fast and exciting racing!”

Romain Gasnal, Le Mans 24 Hours Cycling event manager, says: “For the third year, it is a pleasure to invite the winning team from RIDE24. The 2012 winning team from the University of Birmingham team took a great 21st place at Le Mans in the final general ranking, 12th in the Four Riders category, covering an impressive 220 laps of the Bugatti race track (920km). Great Britain was the most represented country in 2012, with 27 teams (120 riders). Will 2013 be the first year of a British team victory?”

RIDE24 is organised by children’s charity Action Medical Research. The charity is currently supporting work around Down syndrome, epilepsy, sickle cell disease, and diabetes, as well as some rare and distressing conditions that severely affect children.

For more information about RIDE24 and to register, visit the website www.action.org.uk/r24