Hundreds of cyclists took part in a race across Courier Country at the weekend, raising more than £6,000 for educational scholarships
As many as 200 participants darted round the Tour de Tay challenge in what has been described as the event’s biggest ever year.
Riders as young as 18 and as old as 80 took part in the annual Abertay University cycling extravaganza, raising more than £6000 for the institution’s Expanding Horizons Scholarship Fund.
Head of alumni and development at Abertay, Carol Ann Smith, said the money will be used to provide overseas study opportunities for domestic Abertay students and also for international students keen to learn in Dundee.
She said: “This was our biggest ever Tour de Tay and it was great to see so many cyclists of all ages taking up the challenge.
“The amazing weather contributed to a fantastic atmosphere of camaraderie and I would like to thank all cyclists and volunteers for their efforts.
“It’s great to see this annual event growing year on year as it really helps to boost the Expanding Horizons fund, which offers fabulous opportunities to students.”
Two courses were on offer to competitors on Saturday, with a gruelling 50-mile circuit which traced the banks of the River Tay and a smaller 25-mile route.
The larger track saw cyclists set off from Newport, before heading through Fife and Perthshire, turning in Perth before heading towards the finish line in Dundee.
The tour set off at 9am and the quickest cyclists had made it through the halfway stage in Perth not long after 10am.
Our first cyclist is in! Well done Colin. Looking forward to welcoming all our cyclists back 😆🚴 #Abertaycycle pic.twitter.com/sjPwBwGkL2
— Abertay University (@AbertayUni) September 23, 2017
The event was supported by Leisure and Culture Dundee, Tactran and Bank of Scotland, as well as platinum sponsors Thorntons, whose team were the first to set off from the starting line in the Tay Road Bridge car park.
Teams from a number of local businesses and cycling clubs took part and an army of volunteers and marshals were on hand to offer bananas, bottles of water, energy bars and chocolates to participants, as well as keeping them pedalling in the right direction.
