News – 100 Days to British Champs

2014_April_Raleigh_Banner

News and a little bit of history from the organisers of the 2015 British Road Race Championships in historic Lincoln

RST Cycle Clothing & Trigon Bikes

News – 100 Days to British Champs

RACE PRESS RELEASE
The British Road Race Championships will have arguably the best backdrop ever for the finish of a cycle race – the impressive west front of Lincoln Cathedral a sight that the annual Lincoln Grand Prix has enjoyed for over 30 years since the finish line was moved to Castle Square.

Lincoln Cathedral or technically The Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lincoln is the seat of the Bishop of Lincoln. Building of the Cathedral commenced in 1088 and continued throughout the medieval period when it became the tallest building in the world for 238 years (1311–1549) until the central wooden spire reaching a height of 525 feet was bown down in a storm in 1549 and was not rebuilt.

2013_Lincoln_00

The Cathedral is the third largest in Britain in floor space after St Paul’s in London and York Minster, being 484 feet by 271 feet, is Lincolnshire’s largest building and highly regarded by architectural scholars. Writer John Ruskin declared: “I have always held… that the cathedral of Lincoln is out and out the most precious piece of architecture in the British Isles and roughly speaking worth any two other cathedrals we have.”

The Cathedral is also home to The Lincoln Imp and according to 14th century legend, two mischievous imps were sent by Satan to do evil work on Earth. After causing mayhem in Northern England the two imps headed to Lincoln Cathedral, where they smashed tables and chairs and tripped up the Bishop. An angel appeared in the Angel Choir and ordered them to stop.

One of the imps sat atop a stone pillar and started throwing rocks at the angel whilst the other cowered under the broken tables and chairs. The angel turned the first imp to stone, allowing the second imp to escape. The imp that turned to stone can still be found sitting atop his stone column in the Angel Choir. Many of Lincoln’s businesses have adopted the Lincoln Imp in their title and the football club is known as the Lincoln Imps.

100 Days to go
With 100 DAYS TO GO the Championships organisation continues to move ahead with a full range of hospitality packages now available plus the Expo and programme advertising opportunities now defined. Sponsorship openings are also still available giving companies maximum exposure at this mega event for the county.

The grounds of Lincoln Castle will be used both as a hospitality and expo area but will also have a large screen on site plus an entertainment stage featuring local radio programmes and musicians. The grounds will also have the Magna Carta museum and the Victorian prison open to the public. This venue will be transformed in to an entertainment area for the weekend starting with the arrival of the 2,500 riders in the championships Sportive on the Saturday. Food and drink will be available on both days.

Expo sites will also be available at Cadwell Park the venue for the championship time trials and for the opening event in East Lindsey’s annual SO Festival, an event that receives an enormous amount of spectators and media coverage. SO will also be providing entertainment on site, details of which will be announced shortly.

2013_Lincoln_12

Entry to Cadwell Park is via a car pass which can be ordered now on line. Riders in the supporting events must have one of these but separate arrangements will be in place for the competitors in the National Championships along with the media, exhibitors, officials and guests..

The format for all the supporting events has also been sorted out with events for Youth riders at Cadwell Park followed by a 3rd and 4th Category race on Thursday, more Youth events in both the Uphill Dash and the Castle Criterums in Lincoln on Friday and Saturday evenings.

The Uphill Dash promises to be an exiting new event with heats and finals on the programme. The Criteriums will also have two main races, one for juniors and then a 2nd, 3rd and 4th Category event to finish off the evening. Fun events for traders are also planned using the Lincoln Hire Bikes on both evenings.

Grandstand finish line tickets are now available on line for Saturday and Sunday and can be ordered by following the link on the web site.

The large Westgate Car Park will be transformed on Sunday in to a crowd viewing area with Europe’s largest outdoor TV screen on site together with food and drink stalls. The site will also have a British Cycling area for Go-ride skills activities.

Full information on all the above, the championships and the supporting events can be found on the event web site – www.nationalroadchamps.co.uk and by following us on twitter @roadchamps

Send your results as well as club, team & event news here

Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)

Other News on VeloUK

Tags: