Young Trowbridge cycling fanatic Maia Gage will have the honour of leading out her cycling heroes in the Tour of Britain on Friday, including her favourite Sir Bradley Wiggins. 

The 10 year-old, who goes to Bellefield Primary School, was chosen to start Stage 6 of the race from Bath by her cycling club Sulis Scorpions, after her name was picked out of a hat. 

Maia, who lives with parents Emma and Justin and brother Arthur, seven, in Downhayes Road, comes from a cycling mad family and has been part of Bath-based Sulis Scorpions for the past year. 

She will lead the cyclists out, along with three other youngsters from Sulis Scorpions and pupils from schools across Bath, from Royal Avenue in Bath at 10am to the Circus, before the racers set off properly and make their way to Wiltshire. 

Maia said: “I’m really looking forward to it. I thought they were joking at first when they told me. I just couldn’t believe it and it’s going to be amazing to lead out my favourite cyclist Bradley Wiggins. 

“It’s going to be great to meet the cyclists beforehand. I’m quite nervous thinking about what I’m going to say and I just hope I don’t crash or something else goes wrong. 

“I can’t wait to be on television as well. We went to the Tour de France in Yorkshire and we have been to the Olympic road race, so we are very keen cyclists.” 

The race will arrive in Wiltshire about 10.42am, heading along the B3108 Lower Stoke, before heading along the B3108 Winsley Hill and Winsley Road. 

Cyclists will then ride along the A363 Masons Lane, Silver Street and St Margaret’s Street, before heading out of town along the A363 Trowbridge Road and up Widbrook Hill, Trowle and then Cockhill. 

They will then head along A363 Bradford Road, Stallard Street and Bythesea Road, before the A361 County Way and Hilperton Road and then B3105 Trowbridge Road. The race will then head through Hilperton and Seend to Devizes. 

Mrs Gage said: “We are a cycling mad family and we have basically brought the kids up on cycling. Maia has been on a bike from an early age and we are all a bit jealous of her getting to meet the cyclists. It’s going to be a fantastic experience.”

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