Disappointed that they may not see their cycling hero, Sir Bradley Wiggins in action at next weekend’s Grand Départ, staff at Rillington-firm, Ellis decided to pay homage to the cycling knight as they began the countdown to the Yorkshire Wolds’ Cycle Challenge on July 12th and 13th.

Danny Macfarlane, Ellis’ operations director, said: “We’re all really looking forward to The Grand Départ, but the news that Sir Bradley is unlikely to feature was a blow to us all – we therefore felt it’d be a bit of fun to make sure he’d definitely be seen on the Yorkshire roads this summer.”

Aptly nicknamed, Le Mini Départ, the Yorkshire Wolds’ Cycle Challenge is a gruelling 146-mile circular route that will start and finish at Norton College, Malton and take riders as far afield as Pocklington, Beverley and Bridlington.

The 16-strong Team Ellis, features a number of riders, including managing director, Richard Shaw, who only got back on their bikes after agreeing to take part in the event.

“We entered a smaller team in last year’s event and had so much fun there was a real clamour to take part this year,” added Danny Macfarlane.

“Amazingly, people were signing up for the ride without actually owning a bicycle, but with the help of the Government’s Bike2Work scheme and the decision to build a bigger bicycle shed here in Rillington, everyone is now fully kitted out and getting in shape for the challenge.”

Team Ellis is aiming to raise £1,000 for Ryedale Special Families – a Malton-based charity that aims to provide relief for children and young adults with disabilities and special needs in the Ryedale area. To donate visit https://www.justgiving.com/Danny-Macfarlane1/

Ellis is the world’s leading cable cleat manufacturer. From its headquarters in Rillington it manufacturers world-renowned products that are specified and installed in the majority of major construction projects, both onshore and off. For further information visitwww.ellispatents.co.uk or call 01944 758395.