News: 10th Rutland- Melton International CiCLE Classic

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Cycling enthusiasts from all over the world will be focused on the region for the 10th anniversary of the Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic at the end of April.

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10th Rutland- Melton International CiCLE Classic – Sunday 27th April 2014

Cycling enthusiasts from all over the world will be focused on the region for the 10th anniversary of the Giant (Rutland Water) and Schwalbe sponsored Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic at the end of April.

Known as Britain’s most challenging one-day cycle race, organisers have announced a new route (links to senior and junior versions below), which will create the toughest finish yet and raise the excitement and opportunities for spectators.

Along with routes changes, the race sets new ground by staging an exciting junior event on the same day for the country’s aspiring 17/18 year old riders.

The 2014 senior route announced this week involves a 179 kms course, 6 kms shorter than 2013, but will include the challenging climb of Cuckoo Hill approximately 25 kms before the finish, prior to the race entering Melton for its first passage of the finish line and the circuit of 15kms before returning to finish properly in Sherrard Street.

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Ian Wilkinson wins the race for the second time. He’ll return in a Raleigh jersey in 2014.

At this point, ‘survivors’ of the past nine years would descend into Melton via Burton Road, but for its 10th edition in 2014, the finishing circuit introduced for the first time last year has been reversed with the riders this year entering Melton via Saxby Road and ascending Burton Road before traversing the Sawgate Lane final ‘special’ rough road sector of the race. (Full course details attached)

Race Director Colin Clews, said: “Since its inception, the CiCLE Classic has gained a reputation for being one of the toughest one day races on the European International calendar, and the changes introduced for our special anniversary year are intended to raise this reputation even higher”

He continued: “With the addition of the extra climbs of Cuckoo Hill and Burton Road, the new routing also enables a much longer straight within Sherrard Street for the finishing sprint providing a more equal final sprint for the riders left in contention at that stage. Sadly, these changes mean that the race will forego its traditional passage of Whissendine this year, but it is possible that this will be reinstated in future years.”

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2012 and a very wet edition of the race that saw it shortened due to flooding.

Last year, riders from 27 different countries were represented in the race. This figure seems set to be surpassed for 2014 as there has already been much greater foreign interest.

Race organisers confirm teams from: Cult Energy-Vital Water (Denmark), Reitumu-Delfin (Latvia), CK Banska (Slovakia), and Start-Trigon (Paraguay.)

All are strong teams with the potential to win. Cult Energy (previously Glud & Marstrand) provided 2010 race winner Michael Berling, and in 2013 won two stages and held the race leaders jersey for a similar period at the Tour of Denmark against some of the world’s top teams, whilst Reitumu-Delfin fielded Tom Skeynes to a top 20 place in the Classic in 2013 before he went on to take 5th place in the World Championships Road Race for Under 23 riders, and Start-Trigon provided the 2013 King of the Hills winner in U.S. rider Manuel Calixto.

With the upcoming Commonwealth Games being held in Glasgow later this year invitations to all the ‘home’ nations to field a team in the CiCLE Classic have also been sent and Scotland have already confirmed their intention to take part.

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Another rider returning to the race will be the ‘Fonz’ Russell Downing riding for new team NFTO.

The addition of a Junior CiCLE to run alongside the Classic CiCLE race will further strengthen the programme of events and make it particularly spectator-friendly with racing going on between 9am and 3pm. In the same vein as the CiCLE classic, the junior event will also include rough sections and is intended to be a tough race.

The Junior race will start in Oakham town centre at 9am prior to the Classic at 11am and will finish at the same point while the international race circumnavigates Rutland Water, this British Cycling National junior Road Race series race will cover an entirely new course taking in five laps and 92 kms of a Market Overton, Thistleton and Edmondthorpe circuit with detours through Barrow on two occasions to maintain the character of the international race in including off-road sections in its course. (Full course details attached)

Clews explained, ‘ Since the CiCLE Classic established itself as Britain’s only single day international race we have always emphasised that our intention was to encourage other British races to follow us to that level. Finally in 2014 at least one race in the North East is taking that ‘plunge’ and we are delighted to see that. Now however, we wish to set new targets for others by showing that we should also be providing high quality races for our up and coming riders, so once again we are setting down markers for others to follow. For now though, our intention is clear, we want to help “create Britain’s future champions, Today!”

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Alex Blain a winner of the race with Endura Racing and expected to return in 2014 with Raleigh.

The race has attracted big names over the years: including Mark Cavendish, Peter Sagan, Ed Clancy and Eurosport commentator, Magnus Backstedt. Magnus rode in the 2012 edition which proved to be a tough year due to the weather conditions with only 22 finishing the race. This added to the glamour and pursuit of winning and has further strengthened its appeal internationally.

A British rider has been victorious at five of the nine meets; other winners have come from Ireland, Denmark, Australia and France. The current champion is Briton Ian Wilkinson and he is the only competitor to win it twice. He recently said via Twitter he was looking forward to the prospect of competing for a third win, now under new sponsors Team Raleigh (UK) : “Can’t wait for it”

There will be plenty of viewing points along the route and Rutland Cycling are organising free guided group cycle rides to the popular Owston hotspot from their store. They will also be setting up a static bicycle competition in Melton, which will be based on quickest time over a set route. Further details and registration can be found on their website: www.rutlandcycling.com

The day prior to the Classic the ever popular Rutland CiCLE Tour, all comers rides will once again be staged, starting and finishing at Normanton alongside Rutland Water. This year sponsored by Dare2b the rides expect to see well over 1200 taking part, including four times World Professional pursuit Champion Hugh Porter, who will resume his usual race compere role the following day.

To enter the Rutland-Melton sportif, click here

ROUTE DETAILS

ROUTE DETAILS – SENIOR RACE (REVISED)
ROUTE DETAILS – JUNIOR RACE (NEW)

 

 

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