Olympic star Victoria Pendleton has been praised for inspiring 600 women, including a group from St Albans, to bike alongside her at the weekend to raise money for a cancer charity.
The double Olympic gold medallist took on the 40km course of the Macmillan Cycletta at Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire, on Sunday (29).
One of a series of cycle rides, the women’s-only event offered courses ranging in distance from 20-70km, to suit participants of all ages and abilities.
Hot yoga instructor Charlotte Peers joined fellow St Albans residents, indoor and outdoor cycling coaches Lottie Williams and Dani White and Sandra Wright, of Harpenden, at the event.
Two years ago Lottie, a former primary school teacher, braved the roads on her “rickety” old bike for the first time in decades.
She is now an indoor stationary cycling trainer and a cycling coach.
A spokeswoman for the cycletta said that despite plenty of rain the day before, cyclists had perfect conditions for the bike ride.
Many riders were raising money for official charity, Macmillan Cancer Support, which hoped to raise £30,000 from the event.
Afterwards Victoria tweeted: “Thank you to all the lovely ladies who came along to the sunny Cycletta ride [in] Woburn yesterday. [It’s a] shame we can’t do it every weekend.”
An event representative responded that it was “amazing to see the effect an Olympic legend can have on inspiring so many people.”
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