CYCLISTS ruled the tarmac yesterday, as thousands of people enjoyed more than 200km of closed roads for the Giro d'Italia 'Gran Fondo'.
A legacy of last year's visit of the famous Italian bike race, the day-long event drew more than 3,200 amateur and professional bike riders.
It was the largest ever mass participation sporting event to be staged in Northern Ireland and a fifth of those involved came from outside the north.
Some, like Dublin-born former Giro winner Stephen Roche, were not out to break any records, but to soak in the atmosphere and enjoy the collegiate experience.
"For me it's not about racing - it's about making the most of closed roads, the scenery and riding alongside the 3,000 people taking part," he said.
He was accompanied by Team Sky's Richie Porte.
The Australian professional cyclist has been recovering from a bad crash during the Giro proper which saw him fall heavily on his knee and hip, forcing him to pull out of the rest of the race on medical advice.
For some of those taking part in the Gran Fondo, the drive to beat the pack was just as painful.
Yesterday's winner Mark Kane had cuts on his arms and legs after a collision with a police motorbike escort near the end of the race at the Titanic slipway finishing line.
The pain of the scrapes must have been somewhat ameliorated by the triumph of securing bragging rights over sibling Paul Kane, who finished in second place.
The men also had family honour to spur them to victory, hailing as they do from the Kane Cycles clan.
The event began at Belfast's Titanic Quarter, with two routes.
A 173km race took in the stunning scenery of the Mourne Mountains, while the shorter 58km one passed Strangford Lough.
Among those taking part in the latter was 93-year-old John McKeag from Dundonald, Co Down and his brother Milton (88).
A veteran amateur runner, who has been pounding the pavements for the last 76 years, during which time he has run nearly every half marathon in the UK and some in Europe, John did his last at the age of 85.
Now confined mainly to park runs to raise money for the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children, he also does 40 miles on the bike on "a good day".
The again with "a turbo trainer in the house" which he uses every day, he was still remarkably fresh after the extra 18 miles as both brothers completed the route.
The story wasn't as exhilarating for motorists who faced un-Sabbath-like delays in parts of Belfast and Co Down due to road closures.
The first cyclists left Titanic Belfast at 7.30am for the Mourne Mountain route, making it back around lunchtime, quite some time after the bulk of those who chose the more compact Strangford ride.
This is the first year Northern Ireland has hosted the legacy event, which is set to return in 2017 and 2018.
