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Etape Caledonia: Riders withstand weather to raise £380,000 for charity

Entrants in upbeat mood at the start of the sportive.
Entrants in upbeat mood at the start of the sportive.

Despite heavy rain, Sunday’s 81-mile Etape Caledonia cycling challenge through Highland Perthshire was hailed a major success.

Charity was the big winner more than £380,000 was raised for official partner Marie Curie Cancer Care and 5,000 cyclists from all corners of the UK took part.

Joined by Commonwealth Games 2014 double silver medallist Louise Haston, the cyclists began at the crack of dawn to navigate the road course, covering a total ascent of 1,196m.

Damp conditions didn’t faze the riders, with the atmosphere building from their starting pens, and they set off in high spirits from Pitlochry.

The route took cyclists around Loch Tummel and Loch Rannoch before approaching the slopes of Schiehallion and returning to Pitlochry to crowds of cheering supporters.

The first male finisher was Jeremy Honor, from Milton Keynes, in three hours and 43 minutes with the first female finisher, Mireille Captieux, from Edinburgh, coming in at three hours and 51 minutes.

The oldest participant was 77-year-old James Morrison of Aberdeen and this year 20% of entrants were female, an increase of 6% in the past three years.Click here for a full photo galleryAt the finish line, Louise Haston said: “It’s been a challenging ride but one I’ll remember for a long time because of the smiling faces and friendliness of everyone I’ve had the opportunity to meet along the way.”

First to cross the finish line, Jeremy Honor, said: “Today was absolutely awesome.

“I’ve taken part in the Marie Curie Cancer Care Etape Caledonia every year since 2008 and have been trying for about four or five years to come across the finish line first.

“I might not have got the fastest time overall but I’ve finally done it the feeling is incredible,” he added.

Appealing to a wide cross section of people, from cycle club enthusiasts to fundraisers and first-timers, everyone has their own reasons for taking part.

Raising vital funds for Marie Curie was Andrew Aitken, from Crieff, who rode the event in memory of his father, who was cared for by Marie Curie nurses prior to his death in December last year.