A well-known local TV celebrity has been spotted ahead of a landmark Trowbridge cycling event.

Wiltshire’s inaugural Tour de Trowbridge 2026 charity cycling event, will place on Sunday, May 31, and has attracted hundreds of cyclists from across Wiltshire, Somerset, Bristol, Bath and beyond.

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Celebrity auctioneer and presenter of the BBC’s Flog It, Paul Martin, also an ambassador to the Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance visited the charity’s airbase in Semington this week to encourage cyclists of all ages and abilities to take part in the Tour de Trowbridge.

All event profits will be donated to Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance, St. John Ambulance Wiltshire and the Mayor of Trowbridge’s Charity Appeal.

The Tour de Trowbridge, sponsored by apetito /Wiltshire Farm Foods, features four routes, from 5 miles to 79 miles through the picturesque Wiltshire countryside.

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Lee Sheppard, director of Corporate Affairs, Policy and Sustainability at apetito said: “We are delighted to be supporting the fantastic new Tour de Trowbridge event for Wiltshire, which provides a brilliant opportunity to champion an active lifestyle, bring people together and strengthen community spirit.”

The event will start and finish in Trowbridge Town Park, where cycle-themed activities will include pedal-powered smoothie makers, a range of bikes for people to try out, cycle challenges, bike repairs and security tips, food and drink, first aid training from St John Ambulance, and Tour de Trowbridge medals presented to all riders.

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Six-time World Champion Para Cyclist, Lauren Booth from Chippenham, will also attend the event as part of her role as a volunteer for Wiltshire & Bath Air Ambulance.

The youngest Tour de Trowbridge entrant, four-year-old bike fan Wilf from Colerne will be entering with his parents and older sister.  His mother Heidi said: “Wilf is bike crazy and loves to tell us about imaginary bike races that he competes in, on a daily basis, so we figured it was time for him to try a real bike race.

“We all love to ride and have just planned a bike-packing holiday in Holland for the summer, so this will also be good training.”

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Octogenarian entrants include 84-year-old banjo playing tricyclist Eric Windsor from Trowbridge, who used to cycle to school in the 1940’s, has competed in races and cycle rides across the UK, and has been a member of the Frome and District Wheelers since 1961.

Eric said: “I heard about the Tour de Trowbridge through my cycle club as quite a few of us are entering. I’m doing the 25-mile route on my trusty tricycle via Keevil, Great Cheverell and Edington and am looking forward to riding with friends and cyclists of all. It should be a really festive atmosphere.”

Paul Martin, an ambassador for the Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance charity, is promoting the event (Image: Trevor Porter)

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The oldest Tour de Trowbridge entrant is 91-year-old Bill Brewer from Trowbridge who will be cycling the 25-mile community loop with extended members of his family.

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The Tour de Trowbridge is open to riders of all ages and abilities and everyone who registers before May 18 will go into a draw to win a personal Bike Fitters session in the comfort of their own home.

The Tour de Trowbridge ‘stopover’ stations along the longer routes are sponsored by Wiltshire College and University Centre and Cereal Partners UK is the event’s Sustainability sponsor.

Ceri Baker, Executive Director of Wiltshire College & University Centre, said: “We’re delighted to be sponsoring the Tour de Trowbridge and playing a part in such a positive community event.

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Arkadiusz Ciechomski, Operations & Start Up Lead at Cereal Partners said: “Cereal Partners UK is proud to sponsor this year’s Tour de Trowbridge.

“We are looking forward to being involved and to cheering on all those taking part.”