SHARPLES-based cyclist Chris Taylor is heading for France next month on the start of a journey he hopes will lead to a professional career in his beloved sport.

Chris, who has been a member of Horwich Cycling Club for the past three years, will be based in the Limousin region of the country and riding for the UCD Nord 87 amateur team.

He began taking the sport seriously around five years ago after watching the Tour de France on television.

Since then the 23-year-old has won a host of road races and club trophies, but he has been frustrated by the lack of regular competition in this country.

When his training partner raced for the UCD team last summer, Chris realised that was the kind of opportunity which could turn cycling in to more than just a hobby, and wrote to the French team manager begging for a place.

He was successful, and has since then been scrimping and saving for every penny whilst working as a chef, and he was overwhelmed by a £250 cheque from Horwich Cycling Club, so that he can concentrate on racing for the whole time he remains in France.

"That was a brilliant gesture and will really help me," he said.

"I won't have time to work while I'm over there because I could be racing three or four times a week.

"Although I will still be an amateur it will be a very regimented lifestyle, I will basically be sleeping, eating and racing.

"A lot of people think I'm mad to volunteer to live like that, but it's what I've wanted to do for years and I want to give it my best shot."

Cycling is big business on mainland Europe, and whilst the plan is currently to stay in France until September, he wants to prolong his stay.

"Cycling is to the French what football is over here, it is absolutely massive," said Chris. "Every village has a cycling club and there are good competitions all the time.

"If you win races over there you will hopefully get noticed by one of the big professional teams, my dream would be to take part in the Tour de France.

"The Tour is the toughest sporting event in the world because it is three weeks of absolute torture, riding about 120 miles every day.

"The longest race I've taken part in so far was a 106 mile race so I will have to get used to the distances."