The joy of spokes: New cycling event aims to boost the Borders

A NEW cycling event that will make the most of the quiet Borders roads during the spring has been launched.

The “Tour o’ the Borders”, being staged on Sunday, 29 April, is a 70-mile ride starting and finishing at Peebles High School, with some testing climbs as the route traverses four separate valleys.

The event aims to become a spring classic road ride for Scotland. Behind it are John Anderson of cycle clothing brand RennerSport and a partner in the Bicycle Works, a bike business and racing team based in Edinburgh, and Neil Dalgleish, who built up the TweedLove Bike Festival in the Tweed Valley.

Mr Anderson said: “Between us we know a fair bit about the cycling world and I know we can put on a great event. The roads are perfect in the quieter parts of the Borders, there are some cracking big hills and you hardly see a car all day … it will be a very enjoyable day.”