Entries open for Two charity rides on this year's ToB route

Ever wanted to know what it's like to ride a stage of the Tour of Britain? Well, now you can in fact courtesy of the Unite ByCycling campaign you can ride not one, but two stages of this year's Tour of Britain and help raise money and awareness for the fight against prostate cancer.

Entries have now opened for the Prostate Cancer Charity Tour Ride on the route of the Stoke-on-Trent stage of the Tour of Britain and the Prostate Cancer Charity London Ride over the closed road circuit of the final stage in Central London.

The Stoke ride is on Sunday 6 September and is aimed at everybody from hardcore amateurs through to families with three different challenges on offer which should suit all abilities and levels of fitness.

The Pro Tour Ride takes in all 145km of the Stoke-on-Trent stage of this year’s Tour of Britain, providing an exclusive opportunity for amateur riders to test themselves along the course where the world’s top professionals will do battle, during The Tour of Britain stage, the following week. Entry for the ride if £40, the start time is 8am and all participants must be over 16.

At 70km, the Challenge Tour Ride will be a great way to take on friends and family over a route that still encompasses much of The Tour of Britain stage. The ride follows exactly the same route as the Pro Tour Ride until approximately the 45km mark, just after Millwich. Entry for Challenge Tour Ride is £30, Sthe start time is 9am, and all participants must be over 14.

The Family Ride is a fun 20km ride for all the family, allowing groups of all abilities to enjoy the scenic Staffordshire countryside together, whilst helping to fight prostate cancer. Entry for the Family ride is £5, start time is 10am, and there is no age limit. This ride takes in a mixture of roads, towpaths and bridleway and includes one small hill.

To register for the Stoke ride visit www.unitebycycling.org.uk.

The Prostate Cancer Charity London Ride takes place before the final stage of the 2009 Tour of Britain on Saturday 19 September. Places are limited but cyclists of all abilities will get the chance to ride two laps of the London circuit as the atmosphere builds in the lead up to the pros racing to decide this year's ToB final stage and, if it's a close race, the winner of the overall classification too.

One extra wrinkle for the London ride all participants will be encouraged to wear fancy dress and customise their bikes. For your chance to take part visit www.unitebycycling.org.uk for more details, you can also find out more about the work of The Prostate Cancer Charity and find out how you can raise money and awareness for the fight against prostate cancer.