Normans to ride to Battle on electric bikes

About 150 Normans are to travel to the East Sussex town of Battle on electric bicycles, nearly 1,000 years after the Battle of Hastings.

The Vhélio Trophy is a French three-day solar-powered cycling event from 13 to 15 May in celebration of the European Year of the Normans.

Teams of six from Normandy have designed and built their own eco-friendly solar vehicles, aiming to pass through Newhaven and Pevensey Castle at Battle Abbey.

"Battle is a town that is historically, incredibly important to the history of England," Marie-Louise Neill, a Battle Town councillor, said.

Neill added: "We welcome tourists and visitors to celebrate our role in England's history."

The cycling event aims to promote sustainable travel by encouraging technical collaboration and the adoption of the Vhélio, an open-source vehicle.

Battle as a town also backs the motion, as it had previously declared a Climate Emergency within the town council, and currently has a solar town initiative.

With support from English Heritage and Pevensey Town Trust, participants will ride into the town in the afternoon of 15 May to be greeted by locals, including the mayor, Andrew Barton.

As his last duty as mayor, Barton will be awarding the riders prizes designed and made by students at Claverham Community College, for the most beautiful design, the most innovative design and the unluckiest team.

Neill added: "We all look forward to this being the start of a new cycle event between Rouen and Battle – with a bigger event next year for Year of the Normans, and thereafter."

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