This Sunday sees another promotion of the famous annual Three-Peaks Cyclo-Cross race which started back in 1961 and is classed as one of the toughest of all sporting challenges.

A massive field of 560 riders are due to leave Helwith Bridge just south of Horton-in-Ribblesdale at 9.45am to tackle the climbs of Ingleborough, Whernside and lastly Pen-y-Ghent before descending back through Horton to the starting point.

Wearing the coveted Number One will be seven times winner Rob Jebb who combines his running and cycling abilities to get round the 38 mile tortuous course in under three hours even though around four miles are classed as ‘unrideable‘.

There are plenty of ideal vantage points around the course for spectators.

The British record for the Blue Riband 25 mile distance has been held by Chris Boardman at 45 minutes 57 seconds since 1993.

That was until last Sunday when Irishman and International Roadman David McCann shaved just three seconds off on the super-fast course in South Wales at an amazing average speed of 32.68 mph.

The record is now incredibly just 16 seconds short of 10 minutes faster than when Burnley’s Alan Shackleton set the standard at 55 minutes 38 seconds exactly 50 years ago way back in 1959.

Hopes of another British Gold Rush are high this week in the ongoing World Championships being held in Switzerland.

Bradley Wiggins rides in today’s Time Trial and Nicole Cooke in the Ladies Road Race on Saturday. They are potential winners of their respective events.

However, Mark Cavendish has pulled out of the GB squad with illness.

The action can be viewed via the BBC red button and on Eurosport.

A reminder for riders that the closing date for entries for The Rake Hill Climb at Ramsbottom on Sunday, October 11 is next Tuesday.

Already many of Britain’s best anti-gravity merchants are entered including last year’s National Champion Matt Clinton, double previous champion James Dobbin and five times Champ Southport’s Jim Henderson.

The Blackburn and District CTC squad will be there in force with their Adam Pinder on-form and winning the ABC Centreville climb on Blackstone Edge at the weekend with Carl Helliwell second and Clayton Velo’s Bill Belcher fourth.