RESIDENTS of a tiny Weardale village opened their curtains to a rather surprising sight this morning (August 30).

From 7am on a rainless and - almost - windless Sunday, more than 300 cyclists of all abilities gathered in St John’s Chapel in the North Pennines for the 2015 Roof of England Sportive event.

In a crowded market place unaccustomed to visitors, groups of colourfully-clad would-be Chris Hoys set off on one of the most difficult – and breath-taking - road-circuits in the country.

The new, non-competitive event, costing £25 per bike, replaces the Etape Pennines Sportive with which cyclists lost interest after the route and dates of the race were changed.

Roof of England plan to donate the proceeds to the Great North Air Ambulance and Weardale and Teesdale Mountain Rescue.

They also intend to repeat the event next year.

The fresh fixture, the brain-child of cafe-owner and ex-cyclist, Cameron Gordon and his team, was arguably more challenging than the original.

After leaving St John’s Chapel, cyclists wound and climbed their way through Weardale, Teesdale and Cumbria, passing through the villages of Alston, Garrigill, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Stanhope, Blanchland, Rookhope, Eastgate, Westgate, Allenheads and Cowshill, before returning to their starting point.

As well as three feeding stations, participants were given a choice of three routes.

The 30, 60 and 90-mile courses together humorously carved out the figure of a winking sheep’s face through the North Pennine countryside, it being the idea of the organisers to match the routes’ shape to its advertising logo.

And with 9,144 feet of climbing to do, the course was graded level ‘4’ out of ‘5’ by British Cycling.

Mr Gordon, along with fellow cycling enthusiasts, John Jackson, Sue Rigby, Marzia Aloisio, Dave Lonsdale, Julian Haynes and Stephen Robinson had been planning the event from as soon as the Etape was cancelled.

He said: “This is the best cycling in the country for road bikes. It is a cyclists’ event, designed by cyclists. It’s not a commercial event, there are no big sponsors. We are going on some roads that don’t normally get cycled. It will be a new experience for a lot of people.

“The ride from Middleton to Stanhope is well known by cyclists for its stunning views but the road from Cowshill to St John’s Chapel is also really good for its tight bends, steep climbs, lovely long, slow descents and fantastic views over Weardale.”

Mr Gordon added that he hoped the day would promote the North Pennines as a must-go-to place for UK and overseas visitors.