CYCLING legend Hugh Porter will get back on his bike this weekend as he joins hundreds of riders in the annual Halesowen One Hundred Cycling Sportive.

As one of Britain's greatest former professional cyclists and Halesowen Athletic and Cycling Club’s patron, the 77-year-old usually drops the starting flag to get the event underway, but this year he has decided to go a step further and take part.

David Viner, trustee of Halesowen A&CC, said: “To have our club patron to drop the flag, enter and pay to ride the event says a great deal about Hughie.

“He has entered the shorter of the two rides via the club website and reckons on averaging around 13 miles an hour for the ride.

“He would love to have a sizeable group to ride with, including females and males who want to ride at a steady pace – I would think a golden opportunity for anyone with moderate cycling fitness to ride and talk to a true sporting star.”

The event, which will get underway on Sunday morning (August 27) involves riders following a clearly marked route from the club’s Manor Abbey Stadium out into the Staffordshire and Worcestershire countryside, before looping back to the finish with a circuit of the clubs velodrome.

This year’s course will offer riders a choice between a long 100km or a shorter 63km route – both taking in the scenic countryside south of Halesowen Cycling Club – with the 63km distance offering a challenge for the weekend riders, as well as riders looking for their first sportive experience.

Riders on both routes will visit the feed station, situated in Hampton Lovett and will also receive a voucher to claim food from the barbecue on their completion of the course.

The long route will repeat the 2016 route leading out towards Kinver before beginning a loop through Stourport and onto Droitwich before heading for home.

The shorter route will leave the clubhouse along with the 100km riders and separate at Belbroughton to take a more forgiving route to Droitwich before merging with the long route on its way back to the clubhouse.

The return leg for both routes features the challenging Shut Mill Lane climb followed by the now familiar route back to the clubhouse via Woodgate and finishing with a lap of the Halesowen Cycling Track.

Entry for the event is now open at https://tinyurl.com/ya6z7ffo where further information about the route as well as entrance fees is available.

The club will provide a range of facilities throughout the day, including refreshments, a licensed bar, and showers.