Keighley is set to become the centre of the cycling world in 2005 - with a bumper package of activities taking place throughout the summer.

Top cycle trials riders will be heading to area on the third weekend in July when a round of the World Bike Trial Championship comes to the area.

The competition will be held over a death-defying course on the sandstone outcrops of Addingham Moorside, above Silsden.

"The best riders in the world will be coming to the area," said Wayne Mahomet, of theAire Valley cycle team.

Wayne and six-times British Champion Chris Akrigg, who also works at the Aire Valley cycle shop in Keighley will join 40 British riders trying to beat members of the international tour.

Wayne and Chris will also be in action as part of the Bike Trial display team at Keighley's sportKarnival which is to be held at Oakbank SportsCollege on Sunday, June 19, and is an offical National Bike Week event.

In the morning there will be a 'Race the Train' ride from Keighley to Oxenhope and the afternoon will include a wide range of cycle-based events.

A Keighley Bike2Work event is also being planned.

The series of events will continue right through the summer leading up to the visit of the annual Tour of Britain race which will pass through Keighley on a day which takes the professional riders from Leeds to Sheffield via some of the toughest climbs in the race.

The following Sunday local clubs are aiming to hold their own mini 'Stage of the Tour' on the route from Victoria Park to Cock Hill above Oxenhope which is a 'King of the Mountains' stage of the Tour of Britain.

"Everyone will have the chance to compare themselves with the best," said sportKeighley organiser John Dennis.