Sixty cyclists will be taking to the roads of Furness tomorrow when the Topmark Cycles Summer Classic takes place and a number of local cyclists will be looking to succeed last year’s winner Adam Hartley as champion.

Buoyed by the news that the Tour of Britain is returning to Cumbria yet again with a stage finish in Kendal on September 10, cyclists from all over the north west and further afield have signed up for the second staging of the event since it was brought back last year.

The event, which is organised by The Lakes Road Club, is being run under British Cycling regulations and the riders taking part will take in six laps of the same nine-mile circuit as last year, which is based around a start and finish on Birkrigg,

The circuit moves along to Scales, down to the Coast Road at Aldingham, along to Ulverston, up Oakwood Drive and back up to Birkrigg, with the race set to start at 10am and due to finish around 12:30pm.

Race organiser Richard Dixon said: “Last year, we created a ‘Fan Zone’ at the start/finish area, where people could watch the race and this worked well.

“We’ll be giving away clapper sticks and cow bells again this year so that spectators can cheer the riders as they go through.”

Topmark Cycles Mark Nickson added: “We will be at the start/finish line on Birkrigg with our gazebo and some of our bikes will be on show, and we’ll be giving some samples of our cycling specific nutrition products for people to try – so come and see us.”

Lakes RC riders entered include Andy Whalley, who is on a great run of form having won multiple races already this season, the always strong Joe Richards, who is always guaranteed to be there or thereabouts, and American Mitch Smolen, a strong and experienced Ironman triathlete.

Barrow Central Wheelers have fielded a strong team, with riders, including Kieran Lacey who is having a very strong season so far, Dalton’s Dave Huck, who rode really well last year and made the race winning break, with Sam Carr, Michael Connolly and under-23 rider Viktor Lundquist also in the mix.

A strong performance is also expected from promising local junior rider George Ball from Ulverston, who is now riding for the Cycling Performance Squad and is no doubt looking to excel in his home race.

Wheelbase Cab Tech Castelli, who are based in Staveley, have fielded a strong team with riders from both this area and further afield competing, with local riders Tom Martin, Tyla Loftus and Ben Granger riding, alongside team members Sam Lashley, Leon Barnes and Giles Drake.