THEY say road cycling is a team sport where individuals take the glory - and now Skipton's Le Petit Depart offers a non-competitive 'sportive' cycle ride for individuals which can be ridden as a team.

The event, on Sunday, June 5, features two routes of 38 and 80 miles over roads in Craven which formed part of the first stage of the Tour de France in 2014.

Groups and businesses are being invited to get together a team of five riders to take the JACS Trade and DIY Team Challenge.

The 'sportive' is not a race, but the average speeds of registered teams - mixed or single sex - will be used to create an average team speed. Around 1,000 cyclists are expected to take part in the overall event.

Gavin Haworth, of JACS Trade and DIY said: “We’ve had a team of staff and customers ride the event each year and other groups enter as teams, so it makes sense to create this new part of the event and invite other businesses and groups to take part." The team with the fastest average speed will receive the JACS Challenge Trophy.

Caran Stephen, of Skipton Cycling Club, said: “Lots of people think that cycling is a solo sport but in fact it’s a very social and friendly sport. On our club rides everyone is talking to each other as we ride along."

Details of the event can be found at lepetitdepart.co.uk/index2.html