Six cyclists from Harrogate are heading to France this month to represent the town in one of the Pyrenees' biggest cycling events.
The team will take on the 38th edition of the La Lapébie Cyclosportif, in Harrogate's twin town of Bagnères-de-Luchon, on Sunday 13th September.
The 122-kilometre route features a huge 3,382 metres of climbing, taking riders through some of the stunning scenery surrounding the French spa town.
The challenge will culminate with a climb to Superbagnères, one of the famous climbs associated with the Tour de France.
Around 500 cyclists are expected to take part in this year's event.
Representing Harrogate will be two father-and-son combinations, with James Beagley (left, aged 18) riding alongside his dad Rob, and Magnus Denwood (right, aged 18) joined by his dad Tom.
The team will also feature John Dunn and Emma Dooley.
The trip has been made possible thanks to sponsorship from Hornbeam Park Developments, Endless and Verity Frearson.
Harrogate and Bagnères-de-Luchon have shared a twinning partnership for 73 years, with the visit providing another opportunity to strengthen the relationship between the two towns.
Harrogate Town Council Mayor Cllr Dr Viv Poskitt will also travel to Luchon for a civic visit from 11th to 14th September.
She will be the first Harrogate Mayor to visit the French town for a number of years, following disruption caused by COVID and local government reorganisation.
The visit is being carried out on a reciprocal basis, with plans for newly-appointed Mayor of Luchon, M Sebastien Denard, to visit Harrogate.
Denard is known to be a keen supporter of Harrogate Town AFC, and will be visiting the town next April to attend the Harrogate Spring Flower Show.
He would become the first Mayor of Luchon to visit Harrogate since 2014, when Harrogate hosted the Grand Départ of the Tour de France.
The cycling trip follows a hugely successful visit by Harrogate fell runners to Luchon earlier this summer.
The team took part in the Aneto Trail, running 42 kilometres together in searing heat high in the Pyrenees.
Harrogate International Partnerships (HIP) says the event helped create a "real international partnership feel" between the two towns.
Dennis Richards, Chair of Harrogate International Partnerships, said:
"Originally twinned together because they were both spa towns, two visionary mayors thought, immediately after the war in 1953, 'let's build a twinning arrangement'.
"They used the themes of education, culture, and obviously the beautiful areas in the heart of Yorkshire and close to the Pyrenees.
"We are very much hoping that Harrogate, at last, will put the fact that it is twinned with four towns across the world, on its welcoming signs"
Harrogate has four established international twinning partnerships, with connections in France, New Zealand, Canada and Italy.
HIP says these partnerships help maintain Harrogate's long-standing reputation as a welcoming town for international visitors.
With six Harrogate cyclists now preparing to take on the Pyrenees, the town's sporting links with Bagnères-de-Luchon are set to continue.
Find out more about Harrogate International Partnerships here.
Hear Dennis Richards' full chat with Your Harrogate's George Dickson here, as they discuss Harrogate's reputation on the world stage, and the exciting future plans for the partnerships:
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