OLYMPIC rowing champion Mark Hunter will be riding in the inaugural Vélo South race on Sunday, September 23.

The 39-year-old has become a keen cyclist since hanging up his oars and jumped at the chance to ride this new event which starts and finishes at Goodwood.

Hunter, who with Zac Purchase won gold in the lightweight double sculls at Beijing in 2008 and also took silver at London 2012, will be one of 15,000 cyclists of all abilities riding the 100-mile closed-road sportive.

With around 1,700 metres of climbing, Vélo South is relatively challenging, but the beauty of the route, including the rolling hills of the South Downs, support from local communities and camaraderie with fellow riders, should make it a memorable day of closed-road riding.

“Goodwood is an amazing venue, so starting and finishing Vélo South there and getting to cycle around the circuit, will make this event really special,” said Hunter whose success with Purchase in Beijing was Britain’s first-ever lightweight Olympic rowing medal.

“I’ve been to the Revival at Goodwood and I last visited for the Festival of Speed a couple of years ago. As a guest of BMW, I was taken for a spin in an M5 Sport up the famous hill by Tiff Needell. When Tiff got to the top, he decided to show off by wheel-spinning – and completely destroyed the tyres. He melted them.

“I’ll only be on two tyres this time and will be keeping it a bit more low-key. I absolutely love close-road cycling events and the Vélo South course looks fantastic. I can’t wait.”

Winning Olympic gold maybe the stuff of boyhood dreams, but the only medals he has on display at home are those earned completing sportives – and he is looking forward to adding Vélo South to his collection.

So where does completing a 100-mile cycle challenge rank among Mark Hunter’s global achievements at Olympic Games?

“They’re both very different challenges, but challenges nonetheless. Before an Olympic race, I knew what to expect and the effect it would have on my body. I had a plan and it was a case of getting from A to B as quickly as possible.

“Cycling 100 miles, there are lots of different factors. It takes a lot longer for a start. Also, I’ve never ridden the Vélo South course before. No-one has. I don’t know how tough the hills will be. The weather – be it rain or shine – could also have a big impact.

“When you accomplish something to be proud of, it’s a big thing. For example, when I finished the Paris to London cycle event in 2013, I got quite emotional.

“It doesn’t matter what the challenge is. When you set yourself a goal and achieve it, you get a real sense of pride, and I’m sure that’s how many cyclists will feel when they cross the Vélo South finish line.”