Thousands of riders to join Mark Cavendish in Sunday’s ‘Rise Above’ Sportive through Chester and North East Wales

Twenty-six time Tour de France stage winner Mark Cavendish will hit the streets of Chester and North East Wales this Sunday in his inaugural ‘Rise Above’ cycle sportive.

The former World and British Road Race Champion will join 3000 cyclists on routes through Chester and North East Wales.

The event offers amateur cyclists the chance to take on one of three professional run routes, 80km Enthusiast route, 120km Purist ride and 185km Extremist challenge.

185kmExtremist challenge.

Starting and finishing in the heart of  Chester, much of the sportive takes places on roads that Mark will remember fondly from winning Stage Four of the Tour of Britain in North Wales in 2013.

Each route heads west from Chester city centre across the border into Wrexham, Flintshire, Denbighshire and Conwy linking forestry roads and spectacular countryside, the 120km and 185km routes head over the iconic Horseshoe Pass.

The first riders will set off at 7am in small groups of around 50, everyone taking part will have completed the course by 6pm.

“I can’t wait to see the sight of 3,000 cyclists getting ready to enjoy their ride from Chester city centre on Sunday morning, which is a fantastic setting for Rise Above to start and finish in.” Said Mark.

“All three routes are really special and through some beautiful countryside in North Wales, which I’m proud to be showcasing with Rise Above.

“I hope riders in Rise Above can look forward to lots of support and encouragement from the local communities at the roadside as they take on the challenge, and I look forward to sharing the experience with them.”

Road Closures

There will be some road closures in and around Chester from Saturday afternoon they include the following:
Bridge Street, north of Feathers Lane to Watergate Street.
Watergate Street, Bridge Street to Nicholas Street / St Martins Way.
The following will be closed Sunday from 2am:
Lower Bridge Street, (full length), Old Dee Bridge, (full length), Handbridge from Old Dee Bridge to Queens Park Road.
The following length of road will be closed Sunday 9 August at 4am for a maximum duration of 16 hours:
Bridge Street (Grosvenor Road / Pepper Street to 6 metres north of Feathers Lane)
The following lengths of road will be closed Sunday 9 August at 4am for a maximum duration of seven hours:
Northgate St, (Princess St to Eastgate St)
St Werbugh Street (full length)
Eastgate St (Northgate St to Foregate Street)
Foregate St (Eastgate St to St Johns St)
St John St (full length)
Pepper St, East bound (Bridge St to Little St John St)
Pepper St, West bound (Bridge St to Volunteer St)
Little St John St, East bound (Pepper St to St John St)