F

ancy recreating your very own Tour de France in the North York Moors? Well, with a little imagination and less perspiration, you can by taking on the Moor to Sea cycle route. And the best thing about it is that you can tackle this version in just a long weekend, rather than three gruelling weeks. And you’re unlikely to have another challenger for the yellow jersey.

Divided into stages of varying difficulty, this impressive 100 mile (160km) ride takes you through beautiful moorland, forests and along the Yorkshire coastline. With so much outstanding scenery to take in, rest stages are almost obligatory, although if you’re more interested in pushing yourself then it is possible to set time targets for each day, or head to nearby Dalby Forest to attempt the World Cup Mountain Bike Course.

The other great thing about this route is that it links together three of the region’s key towns in Scarborough, Pickering and Whitby, so you’re never far away from a cafe, pub, cycle shop or stick of rock. And, should your motivation falter at any stage, take a moment to recall the ultimate carrot - fish and chips on the beach at sunset. Something Lance Armstrong doesn’t get after a day in the saddle.