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Tour de Trust as we partner up with Cycling Team

By National Trust
Natioanl Trust
2nd May 2011

Tour de Trust as we partner up with cycling team

As the country's biggest owner of outdoor spaces, we have for the first time teamed up with a cycling team, Shred, in a new partnership for the 2011 season.

Throughout the season Shred, a well known UK mountain biking and road racing team based in the south west of England, will wear National Trust branded cycling kit and will be working closely with us at a number of biking events over the coming months.

They will become ambassadors for our countryside work as we increasingly focus on our outdoor spaces.

Jim Pascoe, one of our Cycle Hub Project Developers, said:

'We're gearing up for a cracking year of cycling and the new link with the Shred team reflects the importance of getting more people on their bikes.

'We manage large swathes of stunning countryside and wonderful country estates and exploring these places by bike is the ideal way to experience the great outdoors and get that bit closer to nature.'

In the south west of England the we are involved in the 1SW project and are in the process of creating a new mountain biking trail centre on the outskirts of Plymouth and planning another one in Cornwall.

Steve Toze, Team Manager for Shred, added:

'Teaming up with the National Trust for the 2011 season made lots of sense as they own the land where we can do the things close to our heart – riding, surfing, walking and camping.

'Their greater focus on the fun side of cycling which appeals to everyone really chimes with what we’re about – a great experience in the outdoors.'

A mini cycling revolution has been launched by us this year with a series of seven magnificent challenge rides (also known as sportives) starting with a ride through the beautiful Pembrokeshire countryside on the 1 May and visits the South West with a Dartmoor to Boscastle sportive on Sunday 25 September.

In late July (16-24 July) a cycling festival will see our places open their doors for after hours riding and events to help kids get the bike bug.

The route for the Olympic road race in July 2012 was announced in early February, with the Box Hill Zig Zag Road, a site we own, the highlight. The men will negotiate the tactical hairpins and punishing climb nine times and the women's race will do it twice. For the men’s road race, the Box hill loop is over half the entire distance. Olympic medals could be won or lost here.