MONMOUTH MP David Davies has got on his bike and is in training to compete in the Tour de Gwent 2017.

The Conservative MP, who used to surf and box but now runs, swims or weight trains every day, is gearing up to take part in his first charity cycling event.

The 77-mile Tour de Gwent Sportive, is organised and is in support of St David’s Hospice Care and raises many thousands of pounds for the Gwent charity. The event will be staged on Sunday 9th April.

Mr Davies said: “I haven’t done any specific training for this event so far but I do run, swim or weight train every day. This will be the first time I have done a cycling event. I have completed a great many charity fun runs but never a charity bike ride and I am really looking forward to the new challenge.

“I cycle a lot in London and do a bit of mountain biking but don’t do much long distance road biking. I used to do a lot of surfing and boxing but I’m getting a bit old for that now.

“St David’s Hospice Care is a fantastic charity which helps people in the last stages of their lives along with their families. I have nothing but praise for St David’s Hospice Care. It is a charity which makes a real difference in this area.”

The Tour de Gwent Sportive is split into five routes this year. The routes are the 77-mile Platinum, the 58-mile Gold, the 52-mile Silver, the 37-mile Bronze and the 20-mile Midi.  Each of the circular routes start and finish at Caerleon Cricket Pavilion.

The minimum age for entrants is 16, or 14 for the midi event. The entry fee is £50 which includes an exclusive event cycling ‘sport cut’ jersey, route maps, water and feeding stations and a finish-line BBQ.

For more details and to register for the Tour de Gwent visit www.tourdegwent.org or call 01633 851051.