Professional cyclists had a taste of what lays ahead in the Devon stage of this year's Tour of Britain.
Riders from Team UK Youth Pro Cycling and Performance Cycles CMI (South West Bike Academy) visited Barnstaple yesterday, as the county prepared to host a stage of Britain's premier cycle race.
Team UK Youth riders Yanto Barker, from Totnes, and Chris Opie, from Cornwall, have been checking out what they'll be facing come September, when Devon hosts the penultimate stage of this year's eight-stage race.
The cyclists helped launch the Devon stage by demonstrating the speed and power they produce on two wheels at a special display at The Square in Barnstaple.
On Saturday, September 15, the stage will start in Barnstaple, and head through Dartmoor National Park as it takes in around 106 miles of the county before finishing in Dartmouth.
Tour organisers believe it could prove decisive in the eight-day race in which 96 of the world's top cyclists will compete for the IG Markets Gold Jersey.
Although the team is aiming to make its tour debut, one member has a proven track record in the race. Mr Barker's best finish was eighth in 2005, making him the top Brit that year.
He said: "To return to the Tour of Britain again would be an exciting prospect for me as I have great memories of the race from 2005.
"It would be absolutely amazing to race on my home roads here in Devon and around Dartmoor, in front of friends and family in the UK's biggest race. The roads here are very hard so it will be tough, but I'm confident we can show our quality as a team with UK Youth."
Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: "We are the only South West stage in The tour this year so hopefully spectators from Somerset, Cornwall and Dorset, as well as further afield, will make the journey to Devon to watch the race. As we're the penultimate stage this year we could see the race won or lost in Devon."
