Stars pedal in for weekend of cycling and haute cuisine

Le Blanq, now with the tagline 'Legendary Joyriding', is a ten-stage cycling and gastronomy event hosted on the Island between September 25 and 27.

It has attracted star cyclists Sir Bradley Wiggins and Sean Yates as well as some culinary legends Raymond Blanc, Francesco Mazzei and Ashley Palmer-Watts.

Justin Clarke, managing director of Le Blanq, said the Island was a hidden gem that more people needed to know about.

Read more: Raymond Blanc and Sir Bradley Wiggins for Isle of Wight in September

He said: "In times of Covid and creating something where you want people to have a kind of escapism, you want to do it in a safe way.

"The Isle of Wight is a natural choice and the more we have dug into it the more we have realised the roads are incredible for cycling and the natural larder that is here is second to none."

Local Island talent will also help out at the event but last week provided guests with a taste of what to expect.

Led by Ashley Palmer-Watts, previously of Heston Blumenthal's restaurant The Fat Duck, Adam Fendyke from Tramezzini in Ventnor and sous chef at The Royal Hotel, Nick Dobson, a test run of the first stage of Le Blanq, called Time and Place Dinner was held, in partnership with Mermaid Gin.

Ashley said: “The Time & Place dinner is going to be unforgettable. I’ve been working with the local chefs to put the menu together and it is a simple yet stunning showcase of the very best produce the Island has to offer. Roll on September.”

The menu featured produce from The Garlic Farm, Oil of Wight, Isle of Wight Meat, Isle of Wight Tomato as well as fresh lobster, vegetables and cheeses.

Isle of Wight Councillor Gary Peace, who has played a part in getting the event to the Island, said it was a complete no-brainer to play host to the tour.

He said: "It will showcase what we are all about and is just something we cannot pass over.

"I really think especially now coming out of lockdown this puts the Isle of Wight and Ventnor very firmly on the map."

For more information on the event, you can visit leblanq.com.