Colchester: Chris Boardman MBE attends Re-Cycle event

Renowned cyclist Chris Boardman MBE attended Re-Cycle's annual Spring Sportive event on Saturday.

The event was in collaboration with the Colchester-based cycling group, Velo Club Revolution (VCR).

All funds raised went to Re-Cycle, a charity which sends unwanted bikes to Africa, to help locals get access to a quality used-bikes.

Taking part - cyclists during the Spring Sportive (Image: Re-Cycle)

In total 116 cyclists attended on the day and started either a 42 or 64 mile route from Re-Cycle’s Warehouse in Wormingford, near Colchester, before passing through villages such as Bures, Clare, Great Yeldham, Long Melford and Stoke-by-Nayland.

The day was heightened by the attendance of the celebrated cyclist, Mr Boardman, who has been Re-Cycle’s patron since 2015.

Prior to cheering the cyclists on at the finishing line, Mr Boardman toured the charity’s warehouse, chatted with volunteers, and learned about the process behind preparing bikes for Africa and loading them onto a container.

He said: "It is a wonderful charity to be involved in.

Warehouse tour - Chris Boardman MBE with Re-Cycle Volunteer David Rust (Image: Re-Cycle)

"It is such an impressive set up to see that everything is being reused and when you get to the very last bit where ‘we can’t use this’, even that’s being recycled."

Mr Boardman’s career spanned 11 years from 1989 to 2000, during which he won the inaugural Men’s World Time Trial Championship in 1994 and gold at the 1992 summer Olympics in Barcelona.

He even wore the coveted yellow jersey three separate times at the Tour de France.

Since starting in 1997, Re-Cycle has shipped more than 300 containers, equating to more than 140,000 bicycles.

Happy - Re-Cycle volunteers taking part in the event last weekend (Image: Re-Cycle)

Delighted - Chris Boardman MBE thanking the participants at the end of the event (Image: Re-Cycle)

Thanks to the efforts of VCR Colchester and the support from the community, the event raised more than £2,750.

A Re-Cycle spokesman said: “As the container prepares to depart on Wednesday for The Gambia, the impact of this charity sportive reverberates far beyond Colchester.

“This container, filled with bicycles, represents a lifeline for many communities, providing them with access to essential transportation.

“The funds raised, and the dedication of the local community are testaments to the power of collective action in creating positive change.”