Preview: Rutland – Melton International CiCLE Classic

Event press release looking ahead to the only single day UCI race in Britain, the Rutland – Melton International CiCLE Classic on April 29

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 EVENT PRESS RELEASE

Last Year’s Report from VeloUK including exclusive photos

Preview of the CiCLE Classic Kermesse

On Sunday 29, the largest representation of nations ever assembled in the county will line up for the 8th edition of the Rutland – Melton International CiCLE Classic. Britain’s only UCI ranked single day race which is sponsored this year by Mountivation, will also be the longest ever version of the race ever taking the riders 114 miles between the neighbouring towns of Oakham (Rutland) and Melton Mowbray.

Starting in Oakham town centre at 11.00, the race will be flagged away by local dignatories including Oakham town Mayor, Joyce Lucas and the Rt. Hon. Alan Duncan MP presided over by BBC TV cycling commentator and former four time World Cycling champion, Hugh Porter MBE.

From there, the race takes in an opening two laps of the main roads around Rutland Water before re-entering Oakham to contest the Oakham Wines sponsored Hot Spot sprint award racing onwards to Langham and Cold Overton and the first King of the Hills climb of the day and the narrow roads which characterise the race. From there, the race then enters it ‘heart’ covering over the next two hours the narrow and rough roads and hills around the villages of Somerby, Owston and Burrough-on-the-Hill where the race is played out highlighted by two passages of the notorious ‘Somerberg’ sector near Knossington , which is probably the roughest road use for a cycle race in Britain.

Denmark’s Michael Berling returns to the race in Cycle Premier-Kovert colours.

The race then moves to its finale as it then heads to Whissendine and Burton Lazers, both of which see the race pass through twice for the first time this year. On the first passage of Whissendine, the races last Hot Spot sprint of the day will take place and as usual Sawgate Lane will serve as the final and often deciding rough sector of the day. However, after this final sector, the race will retrace back to Whissendine and back to Burton Lazers giving full opportunity for spectators to the final rough passage before making their way to the finish in Sherrard Street around 15.25.

Support events
Supporting attractions will be taking place around both the start and finish in Oakham and Melton town centres and as ever Owston will be offering up its famous BBQ and a commentary position for several hours of the event. The annual Melton St Georges Day parade will also take place once again a short time before the arrival of the leading cyclists.

The race will be held on closed roads supervised by Leicestershire Constabulary and the races own mobile and static marshals, and motorists and other road users should expect delays at various points along the route. With the event being the only UCI ranked one day race in Britain this year ahead of the Olympic Games, it offers a unique opportunity that is expected to draw spectators from across Britain.

The day before the race will see several hundred amateur cyclists take part in the Rutland CiCLE Tour being held in conjunction with the Classic. This will offer two courses of 50 and 100 miles using many of the roads that the professional riders will tackle the following day. On the morning of the Classic there will also be a race for lower level competitors in and around the Owston and Burrough-on-the-hill circuits which will involve 70 cyclists.

With all the activities now associated and held around CiCLE Classic the event has been accepted as part of the National ‘Community Games’ initiative intended to support sporting events and the development of associated cultural activities.

Who are the favourites?
The CiCLE Classic has proved to be one of the most difficult races to predict a winner, with so many outside influences, such as potential punctures, crashes, and just bad luck coming into the frame to potentially upset the ‘form book’. The sheer size of the race, the biggest field in Britain this year, also making the race difficult to control with 34 teams all wanting an opportunity to influence the race outcome.

Alex Blain after his win at the Maldon Dengie Tour and bad luck in his own country’s off road classic TroBro… will be looking to do the Dengie/Cicle Classic dopuble. Ian Wilkinson who was a key part of Blain’s win in Dengie, is also expected to be at the CiCLE Classic and maybe the roles will be reserved. Wilkinson is a former winner of the race.

Last year, Zak Dempster, riding for Rapha-Condor–Sharp, scored an emphatic sprint win from the leading group of 13 who had survived the 105 miles race. This year Dempster returns, wearing number one and heading his new Endura Racing team who have this year recorded an impressive list of performances in events in continental Europe. He will be supported by a strong team which includes former National road race champion and Team Sky rider Russell Downing.

Rapha, probably Britain’s best home based team over recent years field a young squad this year, but with wins to his name already this year, Ben Grenda looks a solid bet for a podium place. The Danish Glud & Marstrand –LRO team returns again for their fifth challenge on the race which has already netted them one win, one second and two third places in previous editions. With Niki Ostergaard one of Denmarks bright hopes for the future amongst the team and with the event being one of their targets for the early season, Ostergaard, or any of his teammates could prove hard to beat.

Whilst last year the Spanish based KTM–Murcia team experienced the CiCLE Classic for the first time, acquitting themselves very well, the top prize proved elusive an that experience will no doubt be put to good use in this year’s edition.

Meanwhile, the Austrian based Arbo-Gerbruder team make their first visit to the race but come with an enviable record in mid Europe. Headed by Tobias Erler, a former National Road champion and team mate of Mark Cavendish on the HTC squad, with a proven taste for ‘hard’ races such as the CiCLE Classic, they are expected to have a great influence on the shaping of the race as will the Greek based, but largely Belgian composed WorldofBike.com team.

The further foreign challenge is posed by regular CiCLE Classic visitors Asfra Racing and Deschuytter- Westkerke from Belgium and US based CMI-Trilogy Group. All are expected to contribute heavily to the race.

In form is Node4’s Mike Northey from New Zealand… could we see a Kiwi victory follow that of an Australian (Dempster) last year.

Meanwhile the domestic challenge cannot be ruled out with the Node 4 – Giordana Racing team, team winners last year in their former incantation as Motorpoint Racing team, returning and teams such as Hargroves Cycles whose team comprises National Cyclo-cross champion Ian Field who with his similarly experienced teammates, will feel at home on the rougher sections of the Classic route.

But more likely to challenge for the win are teams of the quality of Raleigh–GAC, IG-Sigma Sport and UK Youth who with Greg Mansell amongst their named team, could well have at the wheel of their team car a certain Nigel Mansell who is no stranger to driving, but at much higher speeds.

This years race breaks new ground however in several other ways. Firstly with the participation for the first time of the Great Britain Cycling Academy team made up of several hopefuls for what is expected to be an Olympic team that retain at home a bag load of medals from the London Games later this year. Also, the race sees two local based teams taking part, Coalville based Cycle Premier Kovert, who field 2010 Classic winner Michael Berling of Denmark, but more importantly Melton’s own newly formed Metaltek– Scott team.

Several of the squad have demonstrated this year their good form, and that they are able to be competitive in previous editions of the CiCLE Classic so are expected to give the home town crowd at the finish much to cheer.

In 2012 the opportunities to view the race many times has been increased significantly. For the enthusiastic spectator it is possible to see the race in over 10 places during its circuitous route between Oakham and Melton.

Suggestions:
1. The START in Oakham Town Centre
2. At the Stamford Road bypass island just outside Oakham as the race completes its fitrts lap of Rutland Water.
3. In Oakham Town Centre to see the Oakham Wines sprint be contested.
4. The top of Cold Overton hill for the first King of the Hills climb.
5. In Somerby fior the first passage of the race there.
6. Owston or Burrough on the Hill for the races many passages through those villages.
7. or back to Cold Overton Hill for the fourth King of the Hills climb, or onto ‘Somerberg’ (Bruces Lane) for the ultimate CiCLE Classic experience .
8. Leesthorpe Crossroads or Whissendine village to see the first passage of the race through the village and final Hot Spot sprint of the day.
9. At the exit from the final rough sector of the race at Sawgate Lane just on the edge of Melton.
10. At the FINISH in Sherrard Street.

Please allow plenty of time to get from one point to another and be prepared to encounter the road closures which will apply as soon as the race approaches and will apply until the last of the ‘effective’ race passes. Also please remember to park your cars well off the road especially if parking on any of the many narrow roads that the race uses particularly around Owston and Burrough on the Hill.

If viewing at Owston please use the identified car parks and always obey any instructions from race marshals.

Have a great viewing day!

RIDER LIST (Provisional! — there will be changes in this we know of)

Endura (GBR)

1 DEMPSTER, Zak (Aus)
2 ANDERSON, Jack (Aus)
3 BLAIN, Alexander (Fra)
4 PARTRIDGE, Rob
5 WINDSOR, Dean (Aus)
6 DOWNING, Russell

Cycle Premier Kovert (GBR)
7 BERLING, Michael (Den)
8 ADAMS, Stephen
9 BJERGFELT, William
10 MOZLEY, Jon
11 FALDER, Russell
12 BLACK, Tom

Node 4 -Giordana. (GBR)
13 ROGERS, Rico
14 BIALOBLOCKI, Marcin
15 CRONSHAW, Matt
16 NORTHEY, Mike
17 LAVERY, Philip
18 WILLIAMS, Pete

Team Raleigh -GAC (GBR)
19 SULZBERGER, Bernard(Aut)
20 HOLLOWAY, Daniel (Usa)
21 HOLOHAN, Liam
22 HORTON, Tobyn
23 OLIPHANT, Evan
24 HAMPTON, Russell

Rapha – Condor (GBR)
25 ROSSI, Oliver
26 GRENDA, Ben (Aus)
27 ENGLISH, Felix (Irl)
28 GRIVELL-MELLOR, Luke
29 JENNINGS, Christ (Rsa)
30 KENNAUGH, Timothy

Hargroves Cycles – Trant (GBR)
D.S HARGROVES, Pete
31 FIELD, Ian
32 CRAWFORTH, Jody
33 HARGROVES, Andrew
34 JAMES, Steve

Glud & Marstrand –LRO (DEN)
D.S: SKELDE, Michael
35 OSTERGAARD, Niki
36 JORGENSEN, Kasper
37 GADE JACOBSEN, Mathias
38 STEREBO, Rasmus
39 HANSEN, Jesper
40 CLAUSEN, Patrick

Velo 29 -OTR( VANKRU (GBR)
41 NORLEDGE, Joe
42 MARK, Christopher
43 SMITH, Dan
44 ORR, Rob
45 MOYE, Anthony

Team UK Youth (GBR)
50 GUSTAVSSON, Niklas (Swe)
51 OPIE, Chris
52 McGOWAN, David
53 TANGUY, Richard
54 STEWART, James
55 LEWIS, Gruff

KTM- Murcia (ESP)
56 THOMAS, Simon
57 PEREZ, Juan Miguel
58 RIENDA, Juan Carlos
59 CASARUBIO, Oscar
60 GONZALEZ, Hugo
61 JUAREZ, Ramon

Deschuytter-Westk’ke BEL)
D.S: Deschuytter, Filip
62 BULTINCK, Jimmy
63 VOLCKAERT, Tom
64 DELAMEILLEURE, Matt
65 LAPIERRE, Ward
66 LIBBRECHT, Emmanuel
67 VANDERMEIREN, Ward

Geofco- Ville D’Alger (ALG)
D.S: COUPE, Geoffrey
68
69
70
71
72
73

Asfra- Flanders (BEL)
D.S: ASSEZ, Luc
74 BOWATER, Perry
75 BARNES, Michael
76 HEASTHCOTE, Richard
77 McCARTHY, Eoin
78 NICHOLSON, Michael
79 ROBERSTSO, Scott

CMI- Trilogy Group (USA)
80 GUCWA, Zbigniew
81 JULIEN, Sebastian
82 GREEN, Simeon
83 SOULA, Guillaume

Metaltec (GBR)
84 SIX, Marcel
85 APPLEBY, Dale
86 GEE, Matt
87 HALPIN, Stephen
88 LLOYD, Rhys
89 WILSON, Steve

IG Markets- Sigma (GBR)
90 RICHARDSON, Simon
91 LAST, Tom
92 LLOYD, Daniel
93 CRAVEN, Dan
94 LAMPIER, Steve
95 SYBRANDY, Wouter

Arbo-Grbruder-Weiss (AUT)
D.S.: HAUSER, Oskar
96 ERLER, Tobias
97 SCHRANGL, Alexander
98 RANACHER, Lukas
99 GROMER, Philipp
100 GOGL, Lichael
101 SCHINAGL, Philip

Wheelbase- MGB (GBR)
102 REID, Stuart
103 PENN, William
104 SUMNER, Grahame
105 PULLAR, Jack
106 GREENHAULGH, Tony

Herbalife- Leisure Lakes (GBR)
107 GILHAM, Kit
108 HAWDON, Andrew
109 HASSAN, Robbie
110 COUPE, Andrew
111 CUTSWORTH, Jack
112 KAY, Alistair

VanillaBikes.Com (GBR)
113 GREENWOOD, Ben
114 BYRNE, Dillon
115 ROBINSON, Alisair
116 JACKSON, Samuel
117 FINN, Ashley

Performance -CMI (GBR)
118 MURISON, Al
119 HOTCHKISS, Todd
120 RYAN, Connor
121
122 DUNBAR, Luke

Sportscover-Altura (GBR)
D.S: BROWN, David
123 BROWN, Ashley
124 MORALEE, Duncan
125 DUGGLEBY, Adam
126 THWAITES, Mark

Spin Rotor Racing (GBR)
127 SCOTT, Jamie
128 LONDORS, Paul
129 PALMER, David
130 ROBERTSON, Paul

BC East Mids.l Reg(GBR)
131 HENRY, Ryan
132 COYLE, Chris
133 BARRATT, Matt
134 JENNINGS, Matt

DirtwheelsCycles (GBR)
135 PERRY, mark
136 ROSE, Graham
137 BULMER, Matthew
138 WHITEHEAD, Zak
139 DROGER, Dieter

ETCETERA-WorldofBike (GRE)
D.S: TENTSOS, Georgios
140 Van de SCHUEREN, Kenny
141 IONNIDIS, Nikolaos
142 KATRAKIS, Christos
143 KONSTANTINIDIS, Konstant.
144 SCHULTZ, Phillip
145 TOLLES, Joachim

Hope Racing (GBR)
146 OLDHAM, Paul
147 WILLIAMS, Matthew
148 BOOTH, Daniel
149 THOMPSON, James
150 COLLINS, Dave

Team Wallis Cycles (GBR)
151 SMAIL, Robert
152 ABBOTT, Stephen
153 TIPPER, Jacob
154 CRELLIN, John
155 NICHOLSON, Calum

Lough. Univ. Perf. Team. (GBR)
160 KING, Alexander
161 NICHOLS, Dave
162 THELWELL, Michael
163 ULMER, Matthew

GWR-Swindon (GBR)
164 DUNCOMB-ROGERS, Brock
165 WIECKOWSKI, Jess
166 DENNY, Rupert
167 WILKINSON, Chris

Team Corley Cycles (GBR)
168 JONES, Matthew
169 COX, Ashley
170 STONES, Liam
171 SMITH, Michael

Twenty3C.co.uk-Orbea (GBR)
172 LYONS, Andy
173 SZLACHTA, Wojciech
174 BERRIL, Clem
175 ATKINS, Lewis

GB U23 Academy (GBR)
176 YATES, Simon
177 DOULL, Owain
178 GALLAGHER, Kenta
179 FERGUSON, Grant.

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