Tour de France cyclist flies with Red Arrows

Tour de France Cyclist flies with Red Arrows. Credit: MoD

Pro cyclist Ian Stannard swapped two wheels for jet power at the start of the Tour de France, by flying with the Red Arrows.

The British rider took a ride with the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team yesterday as the Red Arrows performed a flypast over Harewood House, West Yorkshire, as stage one of the world’s biggest cycle race got underway.

Red Arrows in formation. Credit: MoD

Ian was accompanied on the flight by his brother, Flight Lieutenant Matthew Stannard – a Royal Air Force Tornado pilot.

A cockpit view. Credit: MoD

Each was carried in a different Red Arrows jet, sitting in the back seat of one of the nine Hawk aircraft, which were flown by the aerobatic team’s 2014 pilots.

The Red Arrows. Credit: MoD

The flypast over the Tour de France start had long been scheduled for the Red Arrows, with the Stannard brothers joining the existing, planned sortie.

The cyclist flew with the pilots. Credit: MoD

The cyclist was in the back seat of the jet flown by Red 9, Flight Lieutenant Mike Child, while Matthew flew with Red 8, Flight Lieutenant Martin Pert.

The pilots and cyclist. Credit: MoD

Ian, who represented Team GB at the London Olympic Games, had been due to ride the Tour de France but an injury sustained earlier this year left him without the necessary recovery and preparation time to race.