DEVON County Council will aim to inspire visitors to the Devon County Show to take to two wheels.

DEVON County Council will aim to inspire visitors to the Devon County Show to take to two wheels.

With Devon County Council co-hosting two stages of the Tour of Britain and Tour Series cycle races this year, now is the time to get on your bike.

Cycling is continuing to grow in popularity as an environmentally friendly way to travel and keep fit and visitors to the Devon County Council marquee will be able to find out how the Council is helping to make Devon a premier destination for cycling of all varieties including cycling for leisure, mountain biking, cycle tourism and racing.

There will be information on the Tour Series cycle race, which will see Exeter city centre transformed into a mile long circuit on Thursday 28 May. Thousands of spectators are expected at the free event which will see 50 of the country's best riders, including Olympic and Commonwealth Games medallists, competing against each other.

The County Council marquee will also have information about the forthcoming Tour of Britain which will race for two days through Devon and Somerset on 17 and 18 September, taking in a number of towns and villages over 346kms, including Barnstaple, Bideford, Hatherleigh, Crediton, Tiverton, Willand, Honiton, Seaton and Axminster. This will be a great spectacle to watch and enjoy with the associated events.

There will also be the chance for people to find out how they can take part in the annual Cycle Sunday event sponsored by Ashfords on Sunday 21 June to celebrate National Bike Week and help raise vital funds for FORCE Cancer Charity. There will also be plenty of information on Devon's leisure cycling routes and off road trails such as Haldon Forest and the Tarka Trail, and staff will be on hand to discuss cycle routes, cycle training courses for adults and Bikeability training for schoolchildren.

Elite mountain bike trials rider Joe Seddon will also provide a display of his spectacular riding on a specially constructed course at the Show which will put his skills to the test.

Lester Willmington, Devon County Council's Head of Highway Management and Cycling Champion, said: "There has never been so much on offer in the county for cyclists and those who may be keen to re-discover cycling. With two prestigious races in the county as well as community events like Cycle Sunday and a growing network of cycle routes, there's something for everyone, whether they want to watch the professionals or get out on two wheels themselves."

For more information on the Tour of Britain visit: www.southwesttourofbritain.co.uk or www.tourofbritain.co.uk. For the Tour Series visit www.tourseries.co.uk.