Photo Feature: CiCLE Classic Recces

Lots of teams out riding a dusty course for the CiCLE Classic on Sunday. VeloUK has pictures…

With not a cloud in the sky, lots of the top teams that will be doing battle in the first big British classic of the year, were out checking out the course for tomorrow while organiser Colin Clewes and his team were out getting the course ready for the big day.

Out there with them was VeloUK and the first team we came upon was Madison Genesis who were checking out a lot of the sectors around Owston and Somerby.

Typical greeting from the organisers on one of the easier sections.

We then came upon IG Sigma Sport minus one rider who was a little lost (doesn’t everyone on this course!). They too were riding some of the key sections like Somerby and whilst getting pictures, Dave Collins and Paul Oldham of Hope factory came racing past as did talented Under 23 Academy rider Jon Dibben (former Hargroves Cycles development rider) who will be racing in GB colours. The final team, or two of them, that we went out with was Team Raleigh and the rider who will be wearing number 1, last years winner Alex Blain.

Alex Blain (right) and Eric Berthou, the two Frenchman on the team Raleigh team out for a few hours in the sunshine. Alex explained how he knows with number 1 on his back he’ll be a marked man but the Raleigh team have other options including his teammate Eric.

He was joined on his ride of the final section and the new finishing loop by fellow Frenchman and a rider who has been a real asset to the team this year, Eric Berthou. Both had flown in from France during the day and were out for a few hours to get the legs turning. More from Alex later.

Â What a pile of crap! I am referring to the pile of crap behind James Moss of IG Sigma Sport who presses hard on the pedals on the Somerby sector.

Matt Cronshaw of IG Sigma Sport on Somerberg.

Peter Williams (right) and Wouter Sybrandy of IG Sigma Sport relaxed as the team stop on Somerberg whilst a few of the riders did some intervals ;-)

Dan Duguid gives Peter Hawkins of IG Sigma Sport a new front wheel on Somerberg. Many of the teams will have helpers out on the sectors with wheels due to how crucial a quick wheel change can be on this deciding parts of the course.