FINAL preparations are being made to welcome up to 200 cyclists from around the UK to a charity road race around Helensburgh and Lomond’s roads this weekend.

The 50-mile Helensburgh Sportive, on Sunday, July 17, will take competitors on a scenic route from the starting point at Helensburgh Sailing Club along the coast, up the Red Road and into Cardross, through Glen Fruin and around the Rosneath peninsula.

The starting point for the race will be Helensburgh Sailing Club, from where riders will be sent off in waves from 8.15am until 10am, though entrants will be able to register with the race organisers from 8am.

There will be a food station for riders in Glen Fruin, approximately 20 miles into the course.

All proceeds from the Sportive this year are going to Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) – and the organisers are hoping to beat the £5,000 raised in 2021 when the Beatson Cancer Charity was the event’s nominated good cause.

Entries for the event closed as the Advertiser went to press on Wednesday.

The route will take cyclists along the seafront and through the town via West King Street, before following the A814 to the Red Road west of Cardross.

From there the route covers Red Road, Stoneymollan Road and back into Cardross via Darleith Road, before returning to town along the A814 and East King Street.

From there it’s up Sinclair Street and out of town to the Cross Keys roundabout, then fhrough Glen Fruin and the west end of the Haul Road before a right turn to the roundabout at Whistlefield.

Then it’s over the hill to Coulport and around the Rosneath peninsula anti-clockwise, returning through Garelochhead and via Shandon and Rhu to the finish line.