MORE than 1,000 fans enjoyed Farnham’s first festival of cycling - Bike 2016 - and plans are now under way for next year’s event on July 2 to link up with the Farnham Charity Bike Ride and create a town-wide event.

Hosted by Farnham Maltings, Bike 2016 was a celebration of all things cycling with stalls, talks, shows and activities.

A highlight was a sell-out evening theatre production ,‘Ventoux’, based on the epic Tour de France battle between Lance Armstrong and Marco Pantani in 2000 and the pivotal stage that makes or breaks many yellow jersey ambitions - as UK Team Sky champion Chris Froome nearly found out this year.

Event organiser Caroline Pearce said: “Our first cycling festival bike was brilliant, we had a fun- packed day with lots of talks, films, smoothie bike making and lovely exhibitions.

“Congratulations to our winners and everyone who took part and also a big thank you to the event sponsors Pedal Heaven bike shop in Fleet.

“We really enjoyed running the event. The cycling community is so friendly and helpful, and we can’t wait to organise Bike 2017.”

This year’s festival concluded with the inaugural ‘Pedal Heaven Hill Climb Challenge’, a sprint climb starting at the Maltings and going up Firgrove Hill. The challenge attracted 60 brave riders of all ages and on a range of bicycles, including folding and vintage bikes. The fastest competitor was George Stainton-Ellis of the Pedal Heaven Race Team, who climbed the hill in an impressive 01:04 minutes.

Other winners were:

First lady: Edie Shaw, University of Bristol Cricket Club, 01:29.0; first overall team: Pedal Heaven Race Team; first ladies team: VC Meudon; First Vet 40+: Warren Jesse, Pedal Heaven; first U16: James Porter, Farnham Triathlon Club; first 16-18: Mike Godfrey, Farnham Road Club; first folding bike: Steve Tuppen, Swift Ones; first vintage bike: Peter Richards.