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Town Centre Racing in July!
Story posted July 1st, by Larry Hickmott
After a bumper six weeks of town centre racing in May and June, there is still plenty more criterium action to come in July within some stunning locations. The British Cycling Elite Circuit Series sees five rounds taking place during the month and on top of that, the Edinburgh Nocturne is this Saturday.
Cheering crowds, pave, technical circuits that twist and turn and full gas racing is all part and parcel of town centre racing.
July also sees the British Cycling National Circuit Race Championships taking place in historic Beverly (East Yorkshire) on July 16.
While the Halfords Tour Series gave many of the top teams in the country the opportunity to race in front of big crowds and on TV, in July, that opportunity continues for all British teams and riders. Both the races at Stoke and Beverley (National Championships) are being recorded for television while the crowds are also sure to be making their presence felt in locations from Stafford in the Midlands to York in the north of the country.
Elite Circuit Series – July
Stafford Grand Prix (July 8)
Abergavenny Town Centre Races (July 9)
Colne Grand Prix (July 14)
Blackburn Grand Prix (July 21)
York Town Centre Races (July 25)
Top pro stars heading for Scotland
The first major town centre race for July is on Saturday when the cobbled streets of the Grassmarket, in the shadow of the foreboding Edinburgh Castle, will once again welcome the cream of British and international cycling talent as the Edinburgh Nocturne returns on Saturday, 3rd July.
Edinburgh and the racing takes place under street lights!
If you thought the racing at the Tour Series was fast and furious, then the races to come in July are sure to be even hotter as riders battle with every ounce of energy to grab the opportunity of a major victory. With circuits in iconic places like Edinburgh and York, the riders can’t help but get excited at the prospect of racing at such venues.
New kids on the block
Shortly after the Edinburgh Nocturne comes the next round of the British Cycling Elite Circuit Series in Stafford on July 8 which is followed the next day by a round of the series in Abergavenny.
The series so far has been dominated by Endura Racing’s Ian Wilkinson (below) who has won the first two rounds in Dumfries and Otley but he will come against strong opposition in the races to come. The Stafford GP is one of three new fixtures on the Elite Circuit Series listing and like the race in Otley, Stafford will be televised on Eurosport.
Organiser Paul Rowlands has chosen a spectacular 900 metre course which cuts through the heart of the County Town Centre over pave and taking in both narrow pedestrianised sections and wide open tarmac roads where riders will have the opportunity to move up if caught at the back. With historic buildings along the course, the race looks like being a classic event especially if the crowds in Stafford are anything like the ones that turned up for the Stone event a few years ago.
To help get the atmosphere going, at 6.30pm the Stafford Sports College Samba Band will be playing in the Market Square and at 6.45pm, there will be a Bikeability parade with riders who have been through the nationally recognised cycle training programme.
It will be the Elite Circuit Series however that will take centre stage at 7pm with the same riders who made such a name for themselves on TV in June going head-to-head. Names like Malcolm Elliott, Dean Downing, Jefte de Bruin and Tony Gibb. Faces and team colours that will now be familiar to many will be joined by riders from many other top British teams such as Science in Sport and Big Maggies/Wilier/Prendas to name but two on the list for Stafford.
Ben Swift leads the way at Otley in the second round of the Elite Circuit Series.
The Stafford GP will also provide the British teams a chance to go head-to-head post Tour Series and both Rapha Condor Sharp and Motorpoint Marshals Pasta have very strong line ups which will only make the race that much more tasty. The men in black will have their ‘names’ out in force with Kristian House, Graham Briggs, Matt Cronshaw, Jon Locke joined by two Aussies, Zak Dempster and Dean ‘the Duke’ Windsor. Missing is Darren Lapthorne out injured after that spectacular crash in Chester.
Facing them in the Motorpoint Marshals Pasta colours will be twice a winner in the Tour Series, Ian Bibby, along with Durham winner Malcolm Elliott ably backed up by the likes of Olympic and World Champion Ed Clancy, Andy Tennant, Steven Burke, Lee Davis, Johnny McEvoy, James Sampson and Peter Williams.
That battle alone will be worth securing a spot on the barriers and with Endura likely to also field a strong team along with the other major teams, the race is sure to sizzle from the word go.
Historic York
Will York rival Chester as the best backdrop for a bike race? Find out on July 25.
One of the most exciting events in July is the afternoon of racing in York on a circuit taking in Duncombe Place, Blake Street, St.Sampson’s Square and Goodramgate. With a diverse set of races including events for youth riders and those with a folding bike (all the rage now!), the event will be concluded with the final Elite Circuit Series race for July.
Riders and teams wishing to take part, are encouraged to get their entries in to the organisers as soon as possible to ensure they book their places on the starting grid of some pretty exciting races in the coming month. We’ll have previews of individual events as soon as we get them from organisers.
In all on the British Cycling Calendar, there are over a 100 circuit races in July catering for all abilities and you can view these events by going to the British Cycling Racing Calendar.
Elite Circuit Series so far:
Dumfries Grand Prix - Report
Otley Town Centre Races - Report
