FIFTY athletes from Kendal Cycle Club travelled to the Spanish island of Mallorca to take part in a challenging coast to coast.

The course involved an 80-mile cycle from Port d’Andratx on the west coast, to Alcudia on the east.

This notorious route hugs the coast, climbing up and down through numerous Spanish villages before ascending the longest climb on the island-nine miles of uphill to the top of the Puig Mejor.

Throughout the week club members rode in small groups with some days longer than others.

Club member Ruth Walton said: “I really enjoyed it, felt relaxed and confident on the route, happily rode at my own pace and I was pretty chuffed and reassured that I found it well within my capabilities.”

Adam Higgins said that his highlight of the trip was the infamous Sa Calobra climb.

“Last year I weighed 19 stone and it took me 1 hour 38 minutes to ride up it,” he said. “In the last 12 months I have lost four stone and a half, and my goal this year was to do it in under an hour and I surprised myself by doing it in just under 48 minutes.”

Trip organiser Ben Dowman said: “This trip was about club members coming together to ride on some fantastic roads and share time on a beautiful sunny island, some to challenge themselves and others to take a more leisurely approach. It’s not just about cycling, people also went swimming, running, rock climbing and sightseeing during the week and there was plenty of cake and coffee consumed”.

Club member Will Hall said it “knitted” the club more closely together, making it “stronger.”

Kendal Cycle Club is an award winning club, affiliated to British Cycling and is open to all cyclists. As well as the annual Mallorca trip the club offers regular group rides for a range of abilities, coaching for children, women’s specific rides, training for competition and challenge events and helps people improve their fitness.

Meanwhile another Kendal cycling club, Kent Valley Road club put on its annual cycling time trial race from Kendal to the top of Shap.

Yorkshireman Jude Taylor (B38/Cycles in Motion) deposed Richard Bideau (Pendle Forest CC) as King of the hill in Monday’s race.

Taylor pedalled the nine miles, 1,300ft ascent in 25mins 37secs to beat last year’s winner Bideau by 15secs.

Border City Wheeler Richard Bickley, who lives in Shap, had to settle for fourth place in 27mins 20secs but he led his club to team victory over the organising Kent Valley Road Club.

George Wharton was Kent Valley’s leading rider in 9th place in 28-53. Phil Shaw 15th in 30-17 and Claire Rushton 44th in 37-28 completed their counting “mixed team” trio. Fastest individual woman was ABC Centreville rider Charlotte Boothman in 32-38 and she finished 22nd overall.