CYCLISTS will take to the roads of South Cumbria for one of the area's biggest sporting galas on Sunday.

The Tour de Furness 2016 will be the 21st edition of the cycling event and hundreds of people will hop on their bikes to raise money and push their bodies to the limit.

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Cyclists race to sign up to Furness sports event

The annual event is for professionals and amateurs, with the shortest distance aimed at families.

It is organised by the Rotary Club of Furness and there will be four routes ranging in difficulty from five miles to 50 miles.

Each ride will set off from Roose Conservative Club, with the action starting early in the morning at 7am.

<strong>Four race routes</strong>

- The five-mile route follows the coastal cycle path to Rampside.

- The 13-mile ride heads to Rampside and then heads left along the coast road, towards Leece, passes near Furness Abbey and back along Rating Lane and Roose Road.

- The 23-mile route follows the coast road to Bardsea and then travels to Great Urswick and Urswick Tarn, through Scales and past Gleaston Castle and the Watermill and then to Leece where if joins the 13-mile route.

- The 'Coniston 50' follows the coast road to Ulverston, heads along the eastern shore of Coniston Water, through Coniston and then south down the western side of the lake, and back the same way.

Tour de Furness in numbers

- First edition in 1996

- Four different routes

- 20th anniversary celebration in 2015

- Youngest rider to take part in the 50 mile route in 2015 was just 11-years-old

- 630 participants signed up in 2015

- More than 35 charities helped