A thousand riders will leave the Point of Ayre at ten o’clock on Sunday morning at the start of the biggest ever End-to-End Mountain Bike Challenge.

Despite recent dry and sunny days, conditions are expected to be heavy up in the hills after a wet two months.

Favourite is last year’s winner, former Olympian and British Mountain Bike Champion Nick Craig.

One rider sure to be the centre of attention is TT star Guy Martin - a very capable off-road cyclist who is known to particularly enjoy the downhill sections.

One of the organisers, Steven Honeybone, says the improved weather over the last few days has made a real difference.