News – 2016 CiCLE Classics

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Latest news on the Men’s (April 24) and Women’s Rutland – Melton International CiCLE Classic (July 17)

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News – CiCLE Classics

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MEN’S CLASSIC
With just over two months to the 12th edition of the Rutland – Melton International CiCLE Classic the quality of this dramatic race and appeal to teams and spectators alike, appears greater than ever.

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The Men’s elite, UCI 1.2 category race is modelled on the Belgian classics, in particular the character of the Tour of Flanders. The Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic is raced on rough small roads over 184 km. The race provides one of the only opportunities for British riders to test themselves against foreign competition on home soil.

The race started on a national level but soon attracted international interest. In 2013, 22 nations were represented. It is over-subscribed every year and 30-40 entries are sent back. The race is limited to 200 riders.

The race starts in Oakham and finishes in Melton. It takes a meandering route across country with the now legendary off-road section known as the Somerberg and the newly included ‘late in the game’ inclusion of Cuckoo Hill.

The 12th edition takes place on Sunday 24 April 2016 at 11:00am. The Junior men’s race (17-18yrs) is 92km with off-road sections and current champion is Nathan Draper. It takes place at 9:00am prior to the international race.

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The British based One Pro Cycling have chosen the CiCLE Classic to showpiece their newly elevated international professional team on Sunday 24th April 2016. Currently competing internationally in Australia and The Middle East, One Pro have enjoyed significant success against some of the best teams in the World, notably by 2015 CiCLE Classic winner Steele von Hoff who will wear number 1 on the start line in Oakham.

Whilst negotiations continue with other Pro Continental teams to ride alongside One Pro in April, the quality line-up of the current visiting Continental level teams already provides plenty of excitement for a thrilling race.

The Park Hotel Valkenburg Cycling Team, who last year placed three riders in the top eight and won the Melton Building Society Team award, have already committed their top riders to go even better in 2016.

Alongside them, we welcome a new team to the CiCLE Classic, Christina Jewellery from Stuttgart, who have named former Amstel Gold Race winner Stefan Schumacher amongst their line up. In addition, WSG Amsterdam, also a new team to the race, have named several ex World tour riders in their squad which includes Mike Terpstra, brother of 2014 ‘Paris –Roubaix’ winner Nikki – a sure sign that teams have their sights set on the CiCLE Classic.

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“With a number of squads still looking to finalise their teams for the race, we are due once more for the best and most exciting race ever, which we hope will be captured this year on TV” said Race Director Colin Clews, he continued,”

All the top British teams will be out to prove their worth and together with teams such as An Post-Chain Reaction and many more foreign squads all wishing to be part of the action, we will once again have a local race to be proud of, perhaps together with international viewing figures” he said.

He continued: “Following our recent Crowdfunding exercise to raise funds towards putting the CiCLE Classic onto terrestrial TV for the first time, we could well see our ambition achieved in 2016. “Negotiations regarding this are continuing at the current time with various production companies, and anyone wishing to help further may get in contact.

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The 1st Women’s CiCLE Classic takes shape
Probably the most exciting British Women’s road race ever to be staged, the route for the 1st Women’s CiCLE Classic has been announced this week and looks set to provide a challenge like no other on Sunday 17th July 2016.

With all the ‘Belgian Classics’ character of the International Men’s, the race will provide a sensational and fitting mid-summer climax to the Women’s racing calendar in Britain. With a shorter route, the women’s race covers 95 kms, and contains ALL the off road sectors covered in the Men’s race, including two passages of the ‘Somerberg’.

The concentration of challenges en route, and the intensity of effort required by each competitor, suggests Britain’s Women road racers will find in Melton, a race like no other. “The 95 kms of racing may prove deceptive to many of the country’s accomplished Women road racers used to further distances,” said Race Director Colin Clews, “however the course will be completely different to anything ever ridden in Britain previously, and with £1000 on offer to the winner, the battle of the year looks likely to take place in Melton in July.”

Programmed a week after the final round in the National Women’s Road Race Series at Ryedale, competition sits nicely as an attractive proposition on the women’s calendar in 2016. Perhaps competitors with still with a point to prove, and reputations to play for secured on very different terrains in the National Series, the excitement in prospect at the Women’s CiCLE Classic is set to be immense.

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Starting and finishing in Melton Mowbray town centre, the Women’s CiCLE Classic will culminate on the same finishing circuit used in the men’s race, on Sunday 17th July 2016. Associated with the Women’s race will be a new major spoortif event, the Dare2b Melton CiCLE Challenge over 100 kms which will be open to all comers, and finish at the same Melton town centre location as the Women’s race.

The Women’s race will provide excellent exposure and publicity for both the teams and riders taking part and also to any sponsors keen to be associated with this unique event.

Melton Town Bid have already become the first to endorse the new event. Whilst private backing secured for the event has guaranteed the Women’s race for 2016, the organisers are seeking the earliest introduction of commercial support to secure its continuation in future years.

Any interested parties wishing to sponsor the Women’s CiCLE Classic, at whatever level, are invited to contact Race Director Colin Clews on cicleclassics@gmail.com

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