Earby-based Holiday Cottages Group is gearing up for a race being run in conjunction with the Pendle Cycle Festival.

The company is showing its support by entering a team of 15 riders in the National Cyclo-Sportive event as well as sponsoring it.

The National Cyclo-Sportive is a bike ride for both experienced and novice riders and takes place on Saturday.

Participants can choose either a 50-mile or 95-mile route taking in the Ribble Valley and the Trough of Bowland.

The company’s leading brand, cottages4you, has several members of staff who regularly cycle in the area, including managing director Geoff Cowley. The team will be raising money for Pendleside Hospice.

Geoff said: “cottages4you has sponsored several major bike races in the North West over recent years and we are delighted to be supporting the 2010 Pendle Cycle Festival.

“The team has been in training over the last few months and we hope to raise lots of money for the hospice. It’s a great cause and should be a fantastic weekend for all the family.”

The cyclists will be sporting specially-designed tops created by team member Matthew Harvey. The festival runs between 11am and 4.30pm on Saturday and between 10am and 5pm on Sunday at Barley Picnic Site.

The headline event is the National Road Race championships on Sunday for the elite male and female cyclists in the country.

Taking part will be Olympic champions Bradley Wiggins and Nicole Cooke, plus multiple Tour de France stage winner Mark Cavendish.

To sponsor the cottages4you team, visit justgiving.com/cottages4you-National-Cyclo-Sportive-team