Bike legend attending the Dartmoor Classic

One of bike racing’s most popular and successful riders will be the star turn at this year’s Dartmoor Classic cycle marathon.

Former Tour de France winner Pedro Delgado has signed up for the 16th edition of the biggest cycle event in the South West.

The popular Spaniard, known by his fans as ‘Pericho’, won the Tour (1988), two Vueltas and many other major victories in a career that established him as one of the best and most charismatic climbers of his era.

Now 64, Delgado will be on hand to meet fellow riders around the Classic Start/Finish ‘village’ at Newton Abbot Racecourse over the weekend of June 22/23.

He is set to ride the 70-mile ‘Medio’ on the Sunday, which will certainly test his climbing legs.

The Classic, organised by the Mid-Devon CC with hundreds of volunteers, is the biggest not-for-profit cycle ‘sportive’ in the UK.

More than 2,000 riders are expected to take part.

Meanwhile, Torbay’s pro Harrison Wood, who recently completed his first Grand Tour at the Giro d’Italia, has had a change of plan for his next race.

After a short break at home in Torquay, Wood had been due to ride in a one-day race in Switzerland on Friday before taking a longer rest.

But his French team Cofidis have now recalled him to their squad for the week-long Tour de Suisse, which starts on Sunday.