The well-established Victor Berlemont Trophy Road Race is a 112 mile National B event that aims to provide a challenge close to that of National A races. It will be held on the traditional Woodcote/South Stoke/Goring circuit in South Oxfoirdshire.  Once again in 2024, High Wycombe Cycle Club will be promoting it.

The Victor Berlemont is steeped in history and was first run in 1951 in South Mimms, Herts, when the distance was 96 miles and the first prize was £3. It moved to Surrey in the 1970s and came to Woodcote in 2014. It’s now 110 miles – 7 laps of the circuit and seven times up the fearsome Flint Hill out of Goring. Today’s winner will receive £200 and the Victor Berlemont Trophy. There’s also prizes for the fastest riders up Flint Hill, but they have to finish the race!

It’s one of the toughest cycle races in the UK. 

The Berlemont family came over France in 1900. Victor Berlemont ran the York Minster pub (now the French House) in Soho – a watering hole for the Free French Troops (including General De Gaulle) stationed in London during the war. Victor introduced a rule of serving beer in half pints after a group of French sailors chucked their pint glasses through the bar window after a heavy drinking session!