Skip to content Accessibility statement

University’s brightest stars launch YuCycle 2016 challenge

News

Posted on Friday 15 January 2016

Promising University of York athletes Alastair Hepworth and Bethan Richards joined Ashley Marsh, student cycle club president, at the launch of this year’s YuCycle challenge.

YuCycle is a community and University challenge cycle event based at the York Sport Village, which this year is taking place on Sunday 5 June .

Now in its fourth year, the event is firmly integrated into the Yorkshire cycling calendar.

In addition to the sportive road rides, YuCycle will, for the first time, include a mini cycling celebration with activities for all the family, including bike and velodrome taster sessions, cycling maintenance advice and health check.

A part of each rider entry fee will benefit the York Sport Union Performance Programme with riders encouraged to raise sponsorship for this and other charitable causes.

The funding will promote excellence and help attract talented athletes to the University – enhancing York’s status as a top sporting University.

Last month a grant from alumni and friends of £10,000 kick started this year’s funding for the Programme, which offers financial, physical and psychological support to the University’s high performance athletes and clubs.

 Andrew Johnstone, the University’s cycle development manager said:  “This is the time of year when many people are looking for a challenge that will help them improve their fitness and lifestyles.”

“YuCycle has three fully supported routes suitable for everyone from novice riders to experienced cyclists, ranging from 25km to 100k, and routes for the family.

“The top class cycling facilities at the York Sports Village provide fantastic opportunities to prepare, from novices wishing to gain confidence to ride on the road, to experienced riders wishing to improve their performance.”

Further information

  • Register at  www.yorkspace.net/yucycle
  • YuCycle is a cross University collaboration involving: University of York’s Cycle Club (UYCC) York Sport Union, YUSU, York Sport Village Cycle Development team, the University’s Travel team and the University of York’s Development Office.
  • Bethan Richards is an international waterpolo competitor for GB in second international tournaments
  • Alastair Hepworth is an U23 cyclist from Huddersfield and is in his last year as a student at the University of York, studying Electronic and Computer Engineering.  He is a 1st category rider and hoping to target UK Premier Calendar series and Elite Criterium series in 2016. He is aiming towards racing full time after university with a view to becoming a professional cyclist within the next five years.

Explore more news

News

24 July 2026

As melting glaciers and shifting climates push mountain ecosystems to the brink, an international team of researchers has outlined a radical new approach aimed at strengthening the resilience, inclusivity, and sustainability of mountains and the societies that depend on them.

News

23 July 2026

A mother’s everyday speech habits have little bearing on her child’s academic success, according to new research led by the University of York.

News

21 July 2026

The newly established Heslington Hall Art Gallery has opened to the public with a major exhibition celebrating the international career of renowned York painter and printmaker John Langton.

News

20 July 2026

A University of York student has completed an 872-mile run from John O’Groats to Land’s End, to shine a spotlight on the underfunding of brain tumour research.

News

20 July 2026

Four years after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, millions of Ukrainians remain displaced, with researchers warning that thousands of refugee children in the UK may be at risk of losing their native language.

Read more news