Mark Cavendish in awe of Shropshire cyclist Ben, 11
Cycling-mad Shropshire youngster Ben Pierce will never forget the day he met one of his sporting heroes.
Ben, 11, caught the eye of sprint cycling star Mark Cavendish when he took part in the former world champion's Friends Life Tour Ride 100, a 50-mile route which included taking on roads and mountain climbs in the Staffordshire Moorlands and the Peak District some used by Tour of Britain stages.
It included a King of the Mountains climb – the notorious Gun Hill – and in all the cyclists had to climb 1,351 metres.
When Cavendish realised that Ben was just 11, he was so impressed with the youngest competitor's riding he called him up on to the stage, congratulated him and gave him a special prize, a pair of his signed, cycling sunglasses.
Ben, from Harlech Road in Oswestry and a student at the Marches School, was thrilled with the recognition.
His mother, Claire, said Ben had been riding bikes since he was about four and was a member of Mid Shropshire Wheelers.
"His dad has always ridden bikes and so he was on a bike as soon as he could," she said. "He loves his cycling and Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins are his heroes.
"He met Wiggins when he was here for the British stage of the Tour de France so he is on something of a roll at the moment."
