FOR cyclists, part of the attraction of the sport is the feeling of freedom as you pedal your way through the countryside. With its closed roads, however, the Tour of Ayrshire, which takes place at the end of April, offers participants the opportunity to enjoy a whole new level of freedom.

“Unless you’ve experienced closed roads, you won’t know how wonderful it really is,” explains cycling enthusiast Fran Mulhern. “When you have the road to yourself the atmosphere is completely different because you don’t have to worry about traffic.

“It means the really fast people can get up front, followed by the serious cyclists, then you get the families and people who just enjoy their cycling, who can go along at a pace that suits them, stopping every 10 or 15 miles for a cup of tea, slice of cake and a chat.”

Mulhern, who only took up cycling a couple of years ago, took part in last year’s Tour of Cambridgeshire, also staged by organisers Golazo, and says what really stood out was the inclusiveness.

“It was such a friendly race,” adds the 53-year-old, who surprised himself by qualifying for the “Worlds” in Denmark after finishing 30th in his age group. “Even at the front, the elite cyclists will be chatting away about the countryside. And at the back, people will be stopping to take pictures with the folk who are cheering them on from the side of the road.”

The Tour of Ayrshire is a must for all Scottish cycling fans, whether they want to participate or watch from the sidelines. The 20k Chrono time trial race takes place on Saturday, April 29 and follows a circular route out of Kilmarnock, round Fenwick and Waterside, through Moscow and back.

As a qualifying event for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, anyone finishing in the top 25 per cent of their age group will be able to compete at the Worlds in Albi, France, in August 2017.

The following day, the Marmotte Ecosse Grand Fondo will see up to 5000 riders take on a challenging 70-mile route that takes in the best of East Ayrshire’s scenery around Galston, Newmilns, Mauchline, Catrine, Auchinleck, Cumnock and Machouse Hill. The race also starts and finishes in Kilmarnock, with the top 25 per cent of competitors also invited to compete in the worlds.

Race organisers Galazo are keen to stress that the event, which they compare to a big-city marathon, caters for a wide range of participants, from elite racers and experienced competitive riders to leisure cyclists looking for a new challenge.

Craig Burn, chief executive of Scottish Cycling, said he hoped the event would inspire more people to take up the sport. He added: “We are always delighted to see well organised, safe and accessible mass participation events come to Scotland, but to have a UCI sanctioned Gran Fondo is particularly exciting. Securing major events like this is fundamental to achieving our participation strategy. These mass participation events help us build partnerships with others to drive our wider cycling ambitions with regards to getting more people riding bikes, be it through local clubs, participation programmes, competition or social cycling.”

Angie Bennett of East Ayrshire Council added that the countryside would be one of the stand-out attractions of the race for both participant and spectators.

“Being closed road, the race provides a great opportunity for all those taking part and their supporters to enjoy the local area, with so much to do and see along with exceptional food and drink.”

For more information go to www.golazocycling.com