The organisers of the Daily Mirror Great Manchester Cycle, Nova International, have today announced that British cycling sensation, Lizzie Armitstead, will be riding the closed-road urban bike ride on Monday 4th June 2012.

Armitstead, 23, who is a big hope for Olympic gold at this summer's road race in London, will join over 5000 participants for the event, which is being dubbed as the UK's largest street party and is England's first closed road cyclosportive.

Armitstead will be riding the 52-mile 'Test Yourself' route and will also set off the first wave of cyclists taking part in the 26-mile 'Rule the Road' distance.

With over 200 events already planned over the weekend in Greater Manchester, the Daily Mirror Great Manchester Cycle, which takes places on the Bank Holiday Monday, 4th June, will certainly be the most spectacular. It will showcase 13 miles of closed roads, including a stretch of Manchester's busiest motorway - the iconic Mancunian way.

"I am really looking forward to taking part in The Daily Mirror Great Manchester Cycle. I spend a lot of time in Manchester and to be able to explore the city in this way is something I really wanted to do. It is going to be the highlight of Manchester's Jubilee weekend," said Armitstead.

She continued: "To have 13 miles of closed roads reserved for cyclists only is a great opportunity for Manchester. It's lovely to be able to do something like this and it will be great to see everyone taking part."

The 26-mile route has sold out, reaching its 2,500 capacity, but the Daily Mirror Great Manchester Cycle still features two other distances based around the 13-mile closed road loop. The route is designed to cater for all abilities, from club cyclists, to families who wish to take in the sights of the city on a ride together. There's Get Out and Pedal over 13 miles, or Test Yourself over 52 miles still open for entries.

For the more experienced riders, or those wanting a challenge on this four day weekend, the 52 mile Test Yourself route, which is also being classed as England's first ever closed-road sportive, will see riders complete four laps of the 13 mile loop. Starting and finishing at Eastlands, the home of Manchester City FC, the course takes in the districts of Manchester, Trafford and Salford, allowing cyclists the chance to see their city from a new perspective as they ride along roads normally strictly off limits to cyclists.

Set over the four-day Jubilee weekend (2-5 June) it means participants will be able to take a well-earned break on the Tuesday Bank Holiday so they can be rested to start back at work on the Wednesday.

The £10 entry fee not only gains admission to a closed road mass participation event, but riders will also be given accurate chip timing, a Great Manchester Cycle T-shirt, a medal and a finishers pack.

Set up by Nova International to be part of a 'Great' festival of sport in Manchester this summer, the Great Manchester Cycle will join a full programme that includes the UK's most popular 10k, the Bupa Great Manchester Run and the British Gas Great Manchester Swim.

For event information and how to sign up, please see here: http://www.greatcycle.org