THE largest mass participation event the Guernsey Velo Club has ever staged took place last weekend.

Sunday’s second sportive ride of the winter series attracted an amazing 242 starters.

‘The unseasonably good weather will also have encouraged people to turn out in their masses and we hope that the rest of the series will be blessed with similar conditions. However, I somehow think that this is unlikely to happen,’ said GVC president Gary Wallbridge.

Taken a little by surprise by the high numbers signing on on the day, it was agreed to release the riders for each of the four routes in waves to ensure the roads in both directions were not clogged by large bunches of riders as they moved away from the start line.