How many people do you think took part in the An Post Sportive Series last year?

It was a packed house at the Meath Heritage Cycle Tour last year. Now dates and route details have been announced for this year's nationwide An Post Cycle Series.

Almost 17,000 cyclists took part in the An Post Cycle Series last year, with the organisers now having unveiled details of this year’s events.

The sportives, which have options from gentle family cycles suitable for children to much longer routes for those looking got a challenge, will run between May and September.

The 2015 series gets underway on Saturday, May 2nd, with the An Post Yeats Tour of Sligo.

It will be followed by the An Post Tour De Burren in Co Clare, on Saturday, June 20th.

The next fixture is the An Post Meath Heritage Cycle Tour on Saturday and Sunday, July 25th and 26th.

The Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford takes place on Saturday and Sunday, August 22nd and 23rd August.

The main event at the Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford last year, one of the most popular sportives in the country (Photo: Dc Images)

And finally the An Post Rebel Tour of Cork will be held on Saturday, September 12th.

All of the events are organised by the Irish Sports Council’s local sports partnerships in conjunction with city, county and cycling club partners.

Event ambassadors this year include eight time All Ireland winning hurler and former Kilkenny wing-back JJ Delaney as well as women’s 400m runner Marian Heffernan.

Comedian PJ Gallagher and musician Bressie are also on board as is Sean Kelly.

Just over 16,780 people took part last year and title sponsor An Post expects that figure to be higher this time around.

The series caters for all ages and abilities, with routes ranging from a family 10km spin to the more challenging 50km, 60km, 100km and 160km routes.