More than 250 cyclists taking part in the three-day London to Paris Cycle Tour are due in Dover at lunchtime today.

They left Hampton Court Palace at 6.45am and are due to arrive in Dover from 1pm having completed the first 175 kilometres of the tour.

Twenty-one years after winning the Tour de France, Stephen Roche will be among the riders who are heading for the Champs Elise on Saturday as will top professional rider Emma Davis Jones and double Olympic gold rowing medallist, James Cracknell who has taken up endurance cycling since retiring from rowing.

The London-Paris Cycle Tour is unique in that it offers amateur cyclists the opportunity to ride with legendary figures such as Roche, in professional cycling conditions, with rolling road closures, full mechanical support and group formations.