Volvo

Sports and media celebrities to join City execs for charity Time-Trial in the heart of London

IG Markets is to launch the inaugural IG Markets Hot Lap on Sunday 18 September, the final day of the Tour of Britain. Over 50 amateur cyclists have signed up to ride the famed time-trial course in the heart of London, including seventeen sporting and media celebrities who are to captain the three person teams in support of the Prostate Cancer Charity.  IG Markets is also sponsoring the Gold Jersey, the leader jersey of the 2011 Tour of Britain.

The IG Markets Hot Lap will kick off at 1300hrs in the wake of the professional time-trials that take place during the morning and only a couple of hours before the final stage of the Tour of Britain which starts at 1545hrs. The circuit is 8.8km and weaves between some of London's most famous landmarks. There is every incentive to raise funds for the charity as every £100 buys the team a one second reduction on their overall time.

Among the celebrities that will captain the teams are sporting stars Chemmy Alcott, Britain's leading Alpine skier; Shirley Robertson, a double Olympic Gold medallist sailor and CNN & BBC presenter; Tasha Danvers, Olympic Bronze medallist hurdler; Nick Dempsey, Olympic bronze medallist and Windsurf World Champion; Ben Saunders, the polar explorer and ex-footballer Mark Bright.

These athletes join BBC Casualty actor Tristan Gemmel, BBC Radio London’s Robert Elms, Spandau Ballet's Gary Kemp and household TV presenters such as Sky News anchor Dermot Murnaghan and ITV's cycling presenter Ned Boulting, among several others.

Together the celebrity participants have won four Olympic Medals, scored 167 League and Cup goals, conquered the North Pole and had ten Top 10 hits (including Spandau Ballet’s chart topping hit ‘Gold’ that was released in 1983).

Shirley Robertson said:

“I have done a lot of sailing at the highest level, but my cycling career has so far only taken me on a few Sunday morning dashes around the Isle of Wight with friends which always include a Cafe Latte somewhere along the route! The IG Markets Hot Lap is a fantastic opportunity to ride the London time-trial circuit hot on the heels of the pro riders while raising money for the Prostate Cancer Trust and awareness of this sport. Despite being a little bit daunted by the prospect of following in such big shoes, I can't wait to have a go!”

List of celebrity captains

Chemmy Alcott, Britain's No1 skier. Three Winter Olympian and Seven times Senior British National Champion

Dermot Murnaghan, Sky News anchor

Gary Kemp, Spandau Ballet singer with 10 Top Ten Hits

Graham Bell, BBC Ski Sunday presenter and five times Olympic skier

Greg Whyte, Olympic Sports Scientist

Mark Bright, footballer Crystal Palace/Sheffield Wednesday scoring167 goals in 20 years of professional football

Matt Barbet, Channel 5 News presenter

Ned Boulting, ITV4 cycling presenter

Nick Dempsey, 2004 AthensOlympic Bronze medalist and current Windsurfing World Champion

Orla Chennaoui, Sky News Olympic presenter

Robert Elms, BBC Radio London presenter

Shirley Robertson, Two time Olympic Gold medalist (2000 and 2004), CNN Mainsail and BBC sailing presenter

Tasha Danvers, Olympic Bronze medalist in 400m hurdles inBeijing 2008

Tristan Gemmel, BBC Casualty actor

Ben Saunders, Polar explorer and the youngest person to go solo unsupported to the North Pole

Follow Nick Dempsey and fellow Team Volvo for life sailors on Facebook www.facebook.com/volvocarssailing

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