150 saddle up to ride in Sportive
More than 150 cyclists took part in the Muthill Sportive.
Now in its third year, the action-packed June 12 event saw competitors of all ages get into the saddle and tackle one of three colour- coded routes, starting from Muthill Parish Church and stretching for either 17, 40 or 70 miles.
Run by Muthill Village Trust, the charity cycle event was started to boost efforts to build a safe cycling and walking route from Muthill to Strathearn Community Campus in Crieff.
This year the sportive routes included the first 1.5km section of the new cycle path, which stretches between the village’s Strageath Road and Templemill.
Despite the damp conditions, organisers said there was a good turnout of riders for an event which is becoming increasingly popular.
Each rider was greeted with soup, rolls and cake when they finished their cycle.
A spokesperson for the event said: “Muthill Village Trust would like to thank everyone who took part, including the local businesses who contributed food and other refreshments and the many volunteers who fed the cyclists or stood in the rain to marshal the cyclists.
“The trust has recently secured additional funding which, with the proceeds from the Sportive, will allow it to progress the next stage of the cycle route to Crieff.”
It is estimated the whole cycle path project will take around five years to deliver.
The next phase involves a bridge crossing over the River Earn.
Finally, a path will be constructed from the bridge to Strathearn Community Campus.
Once completed, people will be able to walk or cycle between the two communities using quiet country roads and purpose-built paths.
The work is being funded by a combination of sustainable transport charity Sustrans, the Gannochy Trust, the Big Lottery and the Climate Environment Challenge Fund, as well as donations from the community.