WHEN Charlie Milarvie first hit the roads back in the late 1970s, cycling wasn’t the mainstream activity it is today. “People in Lycra were regarded as aliens from outer space”, he laughs. These days, however, Lycra is a familiar sight on Scotland’s roads as the new generation of cyclists inspired by the likes of Sir Bradley Wiggins take the sport from strength to strength at both grassroots and competitive level.

And the popularity of the sport will have a further chance to soar in the spring thanks to the arrival of the Tour of Ayrshire, a prestigious new cycle race with world qualifying status.

Hundreds of cyclists of all levels are expected to take part in the two elements of the Tour, a 20k (12.5 miles) Chrono time trial, on Saturday April 29, and the Marmotte Ecosse the next day, which will see up to 5,000 riders taking on a challenging 137km (85 miles)

course around East Ayrshire, and is part of the pan European Marmotte series of Gran Fondo events.

The routes – all on closed roads – were announced in The Herald earlier this week, with the time trial leaving from Kilmarnock and taking in Fenwick, Waterside and Moscow. The Marmotte Ecosse also starts and begins in Kilmarnock, and encourages riders to enjoy the varied scenery of East Ayrshire.

Milarvie, who designed the route for race organisers Galazo and has been riding in the area for almost 40 years, is confident it will inspire riders of all levels, from elite racers and experienced competitive riders to leisure cyclists looking for a new challenge.

So, how do you go about designing routes for such races, especially when the stakes are high – those finishing in the top 25 per cent of both, in each age and gender classification, will be invited to compete in the UCI World Championships in Albi, France, in August 2017.

“Both courses have been designed with three things in mind,” explains Milarvie. “We want to give all the cyclists taking part a good day out on the bike, a real challenge and a chance to take in the environment. That’s what it’s all about, really.

“The Loudon Valley is one of the most beautiful and underrated parts of Scotland, and the cyclists will enjoy the undulating hills.

“You have to think about these things primarily from the perspective of a cyclist, but you also have to think about the planning and delivery of a big event like this, in terms of closing roads. That’s a heavyweight logistical exercise requiring consultations and management to deliver it effectively and safely.

“But we also need to think about it from the perspective of the spectators, who I hope will really get behind the event.”

So what can the cyclists expect? According to Malarvie both events that comprise the Tour of Ayrshire will be challenging.

“Not many of the roads in East Ayrshire are flat, so you’ll either be working up hill or concentrating on going downhill, while at the same time taking in the beauty of the countryside.

“The contour of the roads is great and there is just so much to see. Riders will be moving to higher parts of east Ayrshire, into the former mining areas where there is less trees and foliage, then back to the lush areas lower down.

“But don’t let the moderate distance trap you into a false sense of security as the rolling nature of the roads, the grippy surfaces and the speed that people will be rising at will provide a real test. It’s a test worthy of the UCI status.”

The organisers hope the prestigious nature of the event, married to the scenery, will make it an instant hit with cyclists and cycling fans from all over the UK.

And for Ayrshire lad Malarvie, it’s a chance to show off his local area. “As well as seeing some great cycling, this is all about shining a light on East Ayrshire. A qualifying event for the worlds is a really big ticket event to have, part of an elite group that takes place all over the world, so this is so good for the credibility of the area.

“I often think East Ayrshire is always a wee bit ignored in comparison to other areas of Scotland. East Ayrshire doesn’t necessarily spring to mind when you think of Scotland’s outstanding natural beauty – it’s places like the Highlands, the west coast and the Cairngorms that people always talk about.

“But East Ayrshire is beautiful and it has so much history. I really hope everyone there embraces it as I think it has the potential to become a really big annual event, up there with those that are so famous and well-attended in places like Belgium.”

The organisers of the Tour have compared it to a big city marathon, only for cyclists, with elite riders racing at the front, experienced and competitive riders just behind and slower cyclists at the rear.

And, unlike many cycle races, all riders, regardless of how experienced they are, will be made to feel like a pro. Malcolm Smith, managing director of Galazo, and himself a former elite cyclist, believes leisure participants in particular will enjoy the “feel” of this world-class event. The company already organises the prestigious and successful Tour of Cambridgeshire event.

“When we set out securing a Gran Fondo for the UK we were looking to open the eyes of British riders to the Masters cycling scene overseas and provide a pathway to this new form of cycle sport at the highest level without having to tread the hard pathway I had to follow.

“The vision extended to putting on the best Gran Fondo in the world and giving every rider the ‘pro’ experience. We have very high production values. This can be witnessed most visibly in our Chrono events where we set up a substantial warm up area with around 60 turbos available, a start ramp and a spectacular podium to celebrate the winners of the age groups.

“Even the most experienced riders get goose bumps when they approach the start of our events.”

For East Ayrshire, meanwhile it’s another chance to showcase what the area has to offer. The event will also hopefully provide an economic boost, as it welcomes participants from all over the world.

East Ayrshire Provost Jim Todd said: “East Ayrshire Council is proud to be hosting the Tour of Ayrshire.

“Cycling is firmly established as a well-supported leisure and sporting activity in East Ayrshire – with more than 700km [430miles] of paths suitable for bikes, the area offers challenges for the most advanced cyclist right through to gentle trails for families and novice riders.

“East Ayrshire is a land of rolling hills and inland beauty, stretching from the south of Glasgow towards the south-west coast of Scotland. Ours is the perfect landscape for cyclists to test their abilities as they explore the delights and challenges our countryside has to offer.

“Earlier this year we had the chance to show the world what our area can offer cyclists when we hosted the opening stage of the 2016 Tour of Britain.

“And the Tour of Ayrshire will help us enhance our reputation further as a respected cycling destination. This will be a remarkable event not only for East Ayrshire, but for Scotland as a whole, as we welcome cyclists from all over the world to experience our stunning scenery and rich heritage first hand.”

For more information and to register for the race, go to www.tourofayrshire.com