ORGANISERS of a New Year cyclo cross race in North Yorkshire have struck gold attracting Rio medal-winning Paralympian cyclist Steve Bate.

The NovaCross cycling event being held at Conynham Hall in Knaresborough is raising money for the sight loss charity Henshaws which works with people with visual impairment and other disabilities.

It’s the third annual Novacross race to be held and is growing in popularity in the sport and in the region attracting more than 700 competitors and thousands of spectators.

Bate, who is visually impaired, won two gold medals at the Rio Paralympics. He will be competing in the Go Cross race, to encourage new competitors, on a tandem with cycling journalist and mountain bike tester Guy Kesteven.

Organisers are hoping to raise £1,000 for a new bike rack and shelter for students at Henshaw’s specialist college in Harrogate which helps people from all over the North.

Steve Smales, race director said: “Having Steve competing in our event is a real coup as he is an absolute legend in British cycling and an inspiration to anybody who is facing a challenge in sport or life in general.

"Steve has just an eight per cent field of vision, and I think we can all take inspiration from his participation in NovaCross.

“One of our key aims is to encourage newcomers into the sport. This is why we’ve introduced the race for novices so they can find out just how much fun and excitement there is in cyclocross racing which is one of the fastest growing cycling disciplines in the UK."

Bates will be on the start line at 9.30am on New Years Day for the Go Cross race which starts at 10am. Children’s races will be held from 11am and at 2pm the veteran men’s race will coincide with the launch of the Knaresborough Duck Race as they cross High Bridge.

For information go to www.novacross.org.uk