THE Paris-London Cycle Race, being held to mark the centenary of the Entente Cordiale between Britain and France, will see 300 riders racing through Kent on Sunday, including Sydney Olympic bronze medallist Yvonne McGregor.

It is seen as a key event in the campaign to convince the organisers of the Tour de France that the UK should again host the opening stages of the world’s most famous cycling race.

The 300km Paris-London Race will start at the Eiffel Tower on Saturday and head for Calais. There the riders will stay overnight before travelling on a P&O ferry to Dover, arriving at 9.15am.

The first British section of the race will leave Dover seafront at 10.30am for Folkestone, then take the A20 through Folkestone, Ashford and Maidstone, before diverting to arrive for the competitive finish of the main race at Rochester Castle.

The riders will then leave for London on an extra speed stage, with the finish and presentations at the Tower of London.

The path of the race will be cleared and patrolled by 40 police motorcyclists, and supported by two medical cars and three ambulances.