On Sunday more than 5,000 cyclists from all over Britain and abroad will descend on Highland Perthshire. They’ll be taking part in the Etape Caledonia, Britain’s first-established closed-roads bike race.
The 81-mile course starts and finishes in Pitlochry and has a total ascent of 1949 metres.
Taking in some of Scotland’s most spectacular scenery, the route goes past Loch Tummel, through Kinloch Rannoch, around Loch Rannoch, through Fortingall and Weem and by Logierait to the finishing line.
This is the sixth Etape Caledonia. Riders are released in groups of 200 every two minutes between 6.30 and 7.30am.
As with marathons, the fastest riders go first with slower ones and those doing it just for the pleasure starting further down the field. There are prizes for the top three male and female finishers, the quickest on a 1km sprint section, and a King of the Mountain prize for the male and female who tear up Schiehallion in the fastest time.
Marie Curie Cancer Care is the race’s main charity this year, and in previous years well over £1 million has been raised for good causes.
It also pours an estimated £1 million annually into the local economy as thousands of cyclists and their families book up Pitlochry and the surrounding area’s hotels, bed and breakfasts and restaurants.
Local companies have hailed the event as a boon to their business.
The Etape Caledonia is the flagship event in the Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival. Full festival details are available here.