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

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.