Nick Craig won last year's race to complete a hat-trick of wins

Organisers on the Manx End-2-End mountain bike race expect another record entry for this year's race.

Almost 1,400 riders took on the testing 46-mile challenge in 2010, which sees cyclists ride from the Point of Ayre to Cregneash on the Isle of Man.

"The event is growing in popularity every year," organiser Steve Honeybone told the BBC.

Registration for September's race will open on Tuesday. 1 February on the competition's website.

This year's race will take place a week later than usual - on Sunday, 18 September.

"The traditional date clashed with the Commonwealth Youth Games , so it made sense to move it back a week. The number of competitors travelling to the island for the race is growing every year, so it was an obvious decision."

The race itself, began as a group of friends cycling across the island for fun, now attracts riders from all over the world.

In 2010, Nick Craig won his third consecutive title in two hours 57:20 minutes.

Almost 1,005 riders completed the full race.

Honeybone continued: "The interest last year was vast, The TV coverage and the positive comments from last year's winner Nick Craig all help, as does word of mouth amongst the mountain bike community.

"Last year, was yet another fantastic event for us, with international riders competing on what is a local event. The island rose to the occasion yet again and we look forward to 2011.

"In 2010, numbers for the event had to be capped, but this year they will not be limited to start with. We will review the registrations later in the year and decide if we are going to close the entries."

Any restrictions will be caused by the nature of the course, road crossings and narrow lanes rather than the organisational side or getting marshals.

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