News: Entries for Virgin Money Cyclone Open November 1

Entries for one of the country’s biggest mass cycle rides, the 2013 Virgin Money Cyclone Challenge, are set to open on 1 November it has been announced.

The event, which will take place on Saturday 29 June 2013, attracts up to 4,000 cyclists every year from beginners and families to professional riders. Taking place on the scenic roads around Newcastle and Northumberland it is part of the Virgin Money Cyclone cycling festival, which will be sponsored by Virgin Money for the second year running.

Full details of the 2013 Virgin Money Cyclone weekend will be released later in October, with the festival set to include the Tyne 6 Bridges Leisure Rides on the Thursday (27 June) for the first time. In 2012, these new 9.5 and 14.5 rides designed for families and beginners had to be cancelled because of heavy rain and thunder storms.

Event organiser Peter Harrison said: “The success of British cyclists like Bradley Wiggins this summer is encouraging people to get out on their bikes. Already we have had lots of people asking about the 2013 Virgin Money Cyclone Challenge rides, so it’s great to be able to tell them they can sign up now.”

Paul Lloyd, marketing director at Virgin Money said: “2012 was the inaugural year of the Virgin Money Cyclone and it was an excellent festival of cycling for all those taking part and watching. We are pleased to continue our sponsorship of what is the UK’s premier festival of cycling. The Cyclone weekend continues to attract some of the sport’s biggest names and is a great event for all the family to come and see these great athletes in action

“Combined with our sponsorship of the Virgin London Marathon and the Edinburgh Festival ‘Fringe on the high street’, the sponsorship of the Cyclone embeds our involvement in the communities we serve.”

For 2013, the format of the Virgin Money Cyclone Challenge rides continue to follow the popular format from previous years, with riders choosing from 33, 63 and challenging 104 mile route options.

For more information visit www.virginmoneycyclone.co.uk, follow @VMCyclone on Twitter or like the Virgin Money Cyclone page on Facebook.