CYCLISTS have been asked to sign up to a 50 mile ride to mark the University of Bradford’s 50th anniversary.

The first Cycle Sportive will take in some of the same routes tackled by the world class competitors in the 2014 Tour De France and the 2015 Tour De Yorkshire, passing through both urban areas and the district’s iconic countryside.

The university hopes current and former students and staff, university supporters and cycling groups sign up to the make the non competitive event one of the highlights of the anniversary celebrations.

It has been set up to raise funds for the 50th Anniversary Scholarship Appeal at the University, and is being run in partnership with Cycling 4 All and British Cycling.

The one-day cycling event will take place on Sunday September 25, as as well as the “challenging” 50 mile route, for keen cyclists, there will also be a 50 kilometre route.

The alternative route is an easier challenge with fewer hills.

Both routes start outside the university’s Richmond building.

The scholarship appeal was set up to raise funds for UK based foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships for those most in need to access higher education.

Adam Tasker, project coordinator for Cycling 4 All at the University of Bradford Union, was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours for services to higher education and access to sport.

He said: “I am delighted to be organising Bradford’s first event Cycle Sportive.

“Bradford is ideally located as the sportive routes encompass both urban and rural. Bradford has a tremendous cycling heritage, using parts of Tour De Yorkshire 2015, Tour de France 2014 and club road race routes.

“This event will build on that heritage and provide an exciting challenge for cyclists of all abilities. I hope cycling clubs, staff and students, our alumni and friends of the university will support this sportive which is part of our 50th Anniversary celebration.”

The 50 mile route will start between 7.30am and 8am and is expected to take between five and seven hours to complete, while the 50 kilometre route runs begins between 8.30am and 9am and is expected to take between two and four hours to complete.

The university was opened by Prime Minister Lord Harold Wilson on October 18 1966, and he went on to become chancellor the following month.

It costs £30 to register for the event, and students and those who are fundraising for the 50th Anniversary Scholarship Appeal can enter at a discounted rate of £20.

To register, visit bradford.ac.uk/giving-to-bradford/make-a-difference/cycle-sportive/