Exmoor Beast attracts hundreds to region
Over five hundred cyclists cruised along the Moors on Sunday, graced with fantastic weather, when the season was rounded off with the Exmoor Beast Cyclo Sportive.
Much of the route was the same as that followed by the Tour of Britain and gave keen cyclists from all over the country the opportunity to experience for themselves the challenges and beauty that Exmoor had to offer.
The event has received enormous amounts of positive feedback from the entrants, who will be returning next year. Keen cyclist Sue Fulford, said, "I thought the day was brilliantly organised, it's the first cyclo sportive
I have done. I felt totally safe and looked out for by all the crew - thank you".
Another cyclist, Roz, said "My first sportive, I absolutely loved it. Fabulous organisation - can't wait for next year!"
Mark Harding, editor of Cyclosport.org, summed the event up as "Great Weather, Great Scenery and Great Food Stops".
Although local cyclists gave visiting enthusiasts a run for their money, first over the finish line was Jack Loveday, a 20 year old Podiatry student from Plymouth University who completed the 100km route in 4:10 hours. Local cyclist Steve Toogood from Minehead took third place overall after coming first in the Exmoor Explorer mountain bike marathon earlier this year.
Graham Bagley, Tour of Britain Project Manager Somerset County Council said, "This event has been hugely successful, raising the profile of Exmoor once again as a great destination for major events. The spin-off effects of the Tour of Britain are already coming to fruition, with more events planned for next year".
The Exmoor Beast is being supported by Somerset County Council, hosts of the successful Tour of Britain South West stage. Councillor Justin Robinson, Deputy Leader of Somerset County Council, said: "Events such as these provide a fantastic economic boost to the region with over half of the participants and their families staying in the local area."
Marcus Di-Vincenzo, Exmoor Beast event organiser, said, "Dunster was a fantastic location to hold the start and finish and the local community was very supportive both on the Saturday and the Sunday. Exmoor's reputation of challenging terrain from the Tour of Britain also gave the area an enormous amount of National Press in the cycling magazines and we are looking forward to coming back next year. I would also like to offer our apologies to those businesses affected by the closure of the car park at Dunster steep. These issues have already been rectified for next year".
View the video of the 2007 event here on Active Exmoor TV
To see the results on the Exmoor Beast visit www.exmoorbeast.org
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