End to End 2015: Hundreds take Mountain Bike Challenge
Last updated on .From the section Cycling
Around 1,500 mountain bikers have set off on this year's End to End Mountain Bike Challenge in the Isle of Man.
The challenge sees cyclists ride from the Point of Ayre in the north of the island to Port Erin in the south.
Last year Ben Thomas set a new course record to win the 46-mile (75km) race in two hours 44 minutes and 36 seconds.
The 25-year-old Vauxhall Motors cycling rider finished two-and-a-half minutes ahead of team-mate Isaac Pucci with Ed Perry third.
Emma Craddock was the leading female in a time of 3:37:36.
Around 1,000 people completed the course.
During the race riders have to tackle a variety of terrain and climb more than 1,500 metres.
There are three manned checkpoints, at Brandywell Road (30km), St. John's (42km) and Eary Cushlin (51km).
