A total entry of around 720 riders have entered this Sunday’s Manx Telecom-sponsored End to End mountain bike race.

Special permission has been granted by the Department of Environment, Food & Agriculture, Manx National Heritage and local landowners to allow the event to pass through the National Nature Reserve at the Ayres.

Riders will now follow the Raad ny Foillan closely for the initial six-mile run to Smeale.

The original plan was to divert to a wider run slightly inland of the course to be used, but after further consultation this has now been adjusted.

The course will then head up the concrete and Tarmac road to Smeale corner, where it will take the usual coast road section through Jurby and Ballaugh Cronk to Ballacrye.

Only the lower part of Ballamoar farm will be used this year, cutting out the busy Ballaugh village/bridge area, rejoining the Glen Road and heading past Ravensdale into Ballaugh Plantation for the initial climb through the main fire road to the Druidale Road.

Last year’s route will be followed from that point onwards.

A lot of work has been carried out over the past month or so on the Sloc descent.

Of the total entry, only 43 are female. In addition to the 660 or so in the main event, starting at 9.30am, a further 32 adults and 22 youths will tackle the half-distance race from St John’s, starting at 11.45.

The overall leading riders are expected to cross the finish line on Port Erin promenade from around 12.30pm, with the latecomers likely to be still trickling in as late as 6 o’clock.

Without Englishman Ben Thomas in the mix this year, it could be on for a local success and the pre-event favourites should include former winner Elliot Baxter, plus Nick Corlett, Daniel Curtis and Team Wiggins roadie Nathan Draper.

Island Games riders Kirree Quayle, Emma Atkinson and Emily Looker should all be well-placed in the women’s, along with Karen Shimmin, who won the women’s section of the sprint triathlon last weekend.

TT star Ivan Lintin is a late entry for the main event.

The forecast for Sunday is poor with rain spreading from the west and reasonably strong winds, so it could be a tough day for everyone concerned.

Riders can sign on at the TT Grandstand on Friday between 4 and 7pm, or Saturday between 4 and 8pm.

The start of the main race will be in four large, graded groups at five-minute intervals. Full reports next week.