AN international mountain biking competition is being staged in Ryedale next week.

The world’s elite will arrive for the UCI Cross Country Mountain Bike World Cup, which returns to Dalby Forest from May 20 to 22.

The spectacular event is being staged in the 3,440-hectare beauty spot, with a road race through the streets of Pickering on the evening of May 20 raising the curtain on a weekend of mountain bike action.

Last year teams from across the globe rated Dalby as the top World Cup venue on the international circuit.

Alan Eves, forest management director, said: “Nearly 11,000 fans watched the fabulous action unfold and this time round another bumper gate is predicted, with the weekend set to be one of the biggest mountain bike events held in Britain ahead of the London Olympics.”

Spectator tickets and tickets to participate in the Dalby Dare race are available from ticketmaster.co.uk