High fives, selfie poses and words of encouragement from a world champion set cyclists off to a good start in the Rise Above Sportive event in Chester yesterday (Sunday, August 9).

Former World Champion and Tour de France Green Jersey winner Mark Cavendish was underneath the Eastgate Clock to wish riders well as they set off on a choice of three routes around the city and through North Wales.

Mark Cavendish offers support to cyclists

The event, which attracted cyclists from all over the country, was in aid of the charities Right to Play and Help for Heroes.

Anne Sherringham tweeted: “Such a wonderful event. Thank you Chester for being supportive of @MarkCavendish.”

The early starters, tackling the 185km ‘extremist’ route, were welcomed by Cavendish, outside the Grosvenor Hotel, who happily posed for selfies or photographs and wished them all well. Mark himself tackled the 120km ‘purist’ route and the later groups took the more leisurely 75km ‘enthusiast’ route.

All of them started the circular routes in Chester before heading straight over the border into North Wales.

Video Loading

Andrew Adam, of Chester, was also on the purist route with the Graham Weigh team. He said: “ This was Chester at its best! The city was magnificent, and there surely cannot be better venues than here to run an event like this. Rolling out of the city centre under the Eastgate Clock with my Graham Weigh team mates was really special.

"The course was suitably tough, great scenery, great roads to ride and we returned to a noisy finish all the way up Lower Bridge Street. Can’t wait for the next one!”

Salls lined Bridge Street in Chester to welcome the tired athletes home.

The stalls in Bridge Street for the Rise Above Sportive