Gran Fondo showed island 'looking its best'

A total of 218 riders completed the 85-mile (137km) Gran Fondo route

About 1,000 competitors from more than 25 counties, including Japan and New Zealand, took part in an annual cycling event held on closed Isle of Man roads.

Organiser Paul Phillips said the event, which took place in fair conditions on Saturday and Sunday, had showcased the island "looking it's best".

The two-day event featured a range of races including a 1km family-friendly ride, 32km and 72km races and a time trial.

Manx amateur athlete Corrin Leeming took the top honours in the Isle of Man's 2024 Gran Fondo event.

The 85-mile (137km) route, some of which is held on the TT course, is a qualifying competition for the UCI Gran Fondo World Series.

Leeming, from Greeba, took overall victory at the end of the event on Sunday with a time of three hours 48 minutes 43 seconds, completing the race two seconds ahead of nearest rival Will Draper.

Professional cyclist Jennifer Powell was crowned women's champion at the 2024 event.

Previous events have attracted entries from other professional cyclists including Chris Lawless and Manxman Mark Cavendish.

The race took place in fine conditions on Sunday

The route, which largely navigates through closed public roads, begins with a mass roll out from Ramsey's Mooragh Park and heads through a range of diverse Manx terrain, including woodland plantations.

More than 500 visitors from more than 20 different countries, including Japan and New Zealand, competed in the 10th event to be staged on the island.

The event covers a range of terrain, including roads and plantations

Mr Phillips said it would have been "impossible for the weather to haven been any worse" than the 2023 races which were disrupted by poor weather, leading to the cancellation of the family event.

He said this year's competitors, including TT rider and new island resident Dean Harrison, were attracted to the "unique" course, which included racing across seven sectors of closed Manx roads, for it's variety of "hill, flat, rough and smooth".

The team behind the event were also proud to provide a platform for local amateur athletes such as Mr Leeming "to perform and win at that level" on home soil, he added.