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Video: Mark Cavendish turns actor to help launch Sainsbury's Sport Relief Cycle 2014

Events next March in London, Glasgow & Manchester with 3, 25 and 50 mile routes on offer

Former world champion Mark Cavendish has been showing off his acting skills in a new video promoting the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games in March next year, as the appeal looks for cyclists to join it to help raise money for good causes through bike rides in London, Glasgow and Manchester.

In the spot for the fundraising event, the Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider, the current British champion, can be seen whiling away his days while the calendar ticks down to the Tour de France, occupying his time by playing solo chess, vacuuming, and eating a gargantuan breakfast that we’re guessing differs somewhat from the one he’d tackle on a race day.

The Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Cycle will take place in the three cities on Sunday 23 March, and feature routes of 3, 25 and 50 miles.

Until 12 January, half-price entry is available, bringing the cost of the two longer rides down to £17.50 per person, as opposed to the full price of £35.

The 3-mile Family Cycle currently costs £5 for an adult and £2.50 for an under-16, instead of £10 and £5 respectively, while a ticket for a family of four costs £12.50 rather than £25. 

The longer routes in London start and finish at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which is also the venue for the 3-mile Family Cycle.

The Manchester rides start and end at Old Trafford, which hosts the Family Cycle.

In Glasgow, the shorter ride is at Tollcross Park, where the 25- and 50-mile also finish, after starting at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

Hoy is himself an ambassador for the event and on the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Cycle website the six-time Olympic champion gives his top sponsorship tip, “Get the person you think will sponsor you the most to sponsor you first. That really sets the bar high for other sponsors.”

The Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games 2014 were officially launched today by actress Denise Van Outen, who said: "I love Sport Relief and even took part in a mile event when I was pregnant!

“This year I'm going to do something more challenging and swim 5km.

“My three year old, Betsy, has just started having swimming lessons so I thought it was time for mummy to learn properly too as I've never been very confident in the water, so the Sport Relief swim really will be a challenge for me."

Besides the cycling events, people can also raise money through separate swimming and running events, taking place at more than 1,000 locations across the country.

Full details of those, as well as the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Cycle including how to enter, can be found by following this link.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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12 comments

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Leviathan | 10 years ago
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Is that why it will be so grueling? Could be riding 2 a breast or more. What does happen in an open road event when 500 cyclists arrive at some traffic lights in Trafford Park?

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bikerdavecycling | 10 years ago
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Further proving that, to the general public at least, there is no other race than the Tour de France..

Obviously it's just an ad, and a good ad at that, but it's amazing how many people think almost an amateur could ridethe Tour (hell, even i've been asked!) without realising the other big races, the build up races and the complete dedication and professionalism required to be a Mark Cavendish. (Like asking the local pub team have they played the Champions League Final....)...

Still, good to get a cyclist on TV and you never know, it should inspire some new cyclists  1

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Simon_MacMichael replied to bikerdavecycling | 10 years ago
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bikerdavecycling wrote:

Like asking the local pub team have they played the Champions League Final....

No chance of that happening for another year; Spurs aren't in it  3

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Leviathan | 10 years ago
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Think these events (50m) are closed road?

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Simon_MacMichael replied to Leviathan | 10 years ago
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bikeboy76 wrote:

Think these events (50m) are closed road?

Not according to the FAQ on the website: "the 25 & 50 mile routes are along roads open to traffic and the general public"

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RhysW replied to Leviathan | 10 years ago
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Sport Relief site says no

Route hasn't been announced yet ... could be nice if it heads north into the Epping Area.

The Sainsbury's Sport Relief Cycle will be a challenging 25 or 50 mile ride on open roads. Setting off from the iconic Lee Valley VeloPark, take on the challenge of the London Cycle and raise lots of cash for Sport Relief.

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farrell | 10 years ago
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0:47 - Has he got a lift in his house?

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noblematt replied to farrell | 10 years ago
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Probably from an underground car park or something.

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koko56 | 10 years ago
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looks pretty pro at the end there

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charlierevell | 10 years ago
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Brilliant video... I have that mug too.

Shame its the same weekend as the Endura lionheart tho, otherwise I might have had a bash.

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Chuck | 10 years ago
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Love the size of his house

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Liam Cahill | 10 years ago
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AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! THIS IS BRILLIANT  4

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