A number of key figures, including nine of the British Para-cycling team, will join the ride during certain stages of the event but seven-time Paralympic gold medallist Storey and Athens 2004 800 metres gold medallist Crates will be joining the 500 cyclists riding the full length of the country over the nine days.

Storey won five Paralympic gold medals in swimming before switching to cycling in 2005 and going on to win a further two Paralympic gold medals at Beijing in 2008.

The 33-year-old from Manchester, who is aiming to become the first British athlete to compete in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012, will be joined by her husband, gold medal winning Paralympic pilot rider Barney Storey, and she admitted she is looking forward to the ride.

"I am so excited to be cycling Deloitte Ride Across Britain for a second year running," said Storey.

"It is a grueling challenge but everyone has been training so hard and there is a real buzz on the base camp.

"We are really looking forward to the week ahead."

Crates added that he is slightly nervous but looking forward to the challenge of taking on the Britain.

"I'm going to be going through the tough times everyone else goes through," said the 38-year-old from Essex.

"I will have good days and bad days and that's what the other 500 people on the ride will be experiencing.

"I can't wait for the huge sense of shared achievement we will feel at the end."


The Deloitte RAB has been devised and delivered by Threshold Sports, the company co-founded by double Olympic rowing champion James Cracknell (pictured), Julian Mack and Charlie Beachamp.

"Having done the whole of Deloitte RAB last year, I am well aware of the highs and lows the riders will experience over the next nine days," said Cracknell.

"What will keep their spirits up is the wonderful scenery on the event.

"The support being offered to ParalympicsGB through Deloitte RAB will make an enormous difference to the preparations of the team ahead of 2012."

The group of riders are cycling Deloitte RAB with the aim of raising £1 million ($1.6 million) over four years for ParalympicsGB.

Deloitte RAB is only in its second year and already the fundraising total for ParalympicsGB already stands at nearly £600,000 ($973,000).

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