A TEAM of veteran cyclists from Warwickshire are claiming a first by being the first British group to take part in a celebrated bike road-race through Brittany.

The six-man team from the Racing Cycling Club in Rugby have accepted an invitation to ride the 80km amateurs’ race in Les Boucles Guégonnaises, the annual Morbihan cycle tournament on March 28.

It is the 25th anniversary of the race, which attracts professional riders from around the world seeking to qualify for the Tour de Bretagne, which in turn can lead to a place in the Tour de France.

The British cyclists are being sponsored by two local expats, Chris and Carol Sealy, who run the Manoir de Mongrenier guest house near Guégon - where one of the participants Mike Macleod and his wife Wendy spent their honeymoon.

Mike returned to the UK to tell club members about the race, which is watched by thousands of competitors who line the route.

He will be joined by Russell Morris, Bob Tobin, Mike Smallwood, Adrian Tayles and Rob Robson.

"It’s a terrific opportunity for us because we normally ride much shorter distances in front of a handful of spectators," said Morris. "This will be the complete French road racing experience."