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Sunday
February 5 2012

TIME:          US  |   UK

WEATHER:  US  |   UK

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NEWS

Tour of Britain Challenge From Anglo–Texan Racer

American born cyclist Kristian House challenges riders to ride with him on the Tour of Britain course, for charity

Kristian House, now one of Britain's top road cyclists with a national title to his name, says he could have had a very different sporting career — in the United States.

He came to cycling by accident, he admits. Kristian who was born in England but grew up in the States, says as a child he was a soccer and athletics nut and only turned to cycling after realising he was enjoying his bike ride to soccer practice more than the practice itself.

Since starting as a junior in Austin, and inspired by another Texan legend in seven times Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, Kristian — whose accent remains a mixture of the lands of his birth and his upbringing – has gone on to race around the world, and now races for pro–team Rapha Condor Sharp.

The highlight of Kristian's career so far was his 2009 British Road Racing title and now the 30–year–old is throwing down the gauntlet to cycling enthusiasts to see if they can match him on a stage of this year's Tour of Britain.

As part of a scheme run in partnership with The Prostate Cancer Charity, The Tour of Britain is offering a unique cycling experience for would be pros to ride in the tyre tracks of the world's best professionals. Riders will be able to cycle a stage of the actual route at three locations around the UK: in Stoke–on–Trent in the Midlands, around London and for the first time this year, in the scenic South West. In London, you could even be warming up the tarmac for the real pros by riding the stage just a few hours before the real thing. For more information visit www.tourride.co.uk, email cycling@prostate–cancer.org.uk or call 020 8222 7131.

Distances range from 2k to 175k, so it's perfect for cyclists of any level, whether you want to take to two wheels with your family or take on a ‘beast of a ride' and go the full distance. You can choose from the Pro Ride, Challenge Ride or Family Ride and entry fees range from £10 to £40 per rider depending on the level.

You can see Kristian talking about how he turned his weekly cycling commute to sports practice into a passionate professional career that has seen him ride all over the world at www.linkto.tv/iframe/show/uuid/SmBG3Q61GmI