A TEAM of cyclists are set to tackle the first stage of the Tour de France in aid of a Newport hospice.

Simon Thomas, Craig Cheshire, Phil Bell and Gavin Rees, who all work for Eurobond Laminates in Wentloog, will take on the 112mile charity challenge across Yorkshire on Saturday, June 20.

They will take on four of the most famous climbs in Britain - Greenhow Hill, Buttertubs, Cray and Grinton Moor - taking in Stage One of the 2014 Tour de France route which started in Yorkshire in 2014.

The team, who will be joined by more than 200 riders as part of the Sika Cycle Challenge, have chosen to raise money for Malpas-based St David’s Hospice Care.

They have set themselves the target of raising £5,000 and have already hit the £4,000 barrier.

Mr Cheshire, who has been busy training for the ride, said the charity was particularly close to his heart as his mum was cared for at the hospice before she died.

During a visit to the hospice they were given a tour of the facilities and told about how people are cared for there.

Mr Cheshire, 31, said: “It’s fantastic the work they do here and the facilities they have got.

“It’s important people recognise these places exist and use them, as almost everyone is affected by cancer in some way.”

He added that despite being a bit nervous they were all looking forward to the charity bike ride.

"It’s hard to find the time to train for it, but hopefully we have done enough," he said.

“We have been going up Caerphilly mountain a few times in preparation for it.”

St David's Hospice Care has been providing community-based hospice care for people with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, and their families, since 1979. They work alongside patients and hope to support them at the most difficult times of their lives.

It costs St David's Hospice Care approximately £7 million each year to provide their much needed and important services.

The team have raised more than £4,000 for charity and have received support from their key suppliers Tata Steel and Rockwool.

They can be sponsored at justgiving.com/Eurobond. They can also be sponsored by texting SDHC50 with the amount, such as £3, to 70070.