AROUND 1,000 cyclists are taking part in the Deloitte Ride Across Britain, which passed through Launceston on Saturday.

The Deloitte Ride Across Britain is a nine-day, 969-mile bike ride, fully supported with base camps, hot showers, delicious food, signed routes, pit stops, medical and mechanical support.

They set off from Land’s End on Friday afternoon, and spent their second night at Okehampton Racecourse.

The ride through Cornwall on the first day was one of the toughest parts of the journey with short, steep climbs and descents, although cyclists were rewarded by the impressive views of the coastline, St Michael’s Mount and the china clay pits. They rode 105 miles across the edge of Bodmin Moor and skirted around Dartmoor before hitting the base camp at Okehampton Racecourse.

Their finish line is at John O‘Groats.

Cyclists range from the elite to those who have never been on a bike before.

The ride is in its ninth year and last year it raised more than £1.2-million for good causes — it raises the highest fundraising per head in the UK for a mass participation event according to Virgin Money Giving.