Teams for Men’s CiCLE Classic

A provisional list of 34 teams have been accepted for this year’s CiCLE Classic headed up by Saint Piran with Gabz Cullaigh expected to spearhead their challenge in this international event

Teams for Men’s CiCLE Classic

A provisional list of 34 teams have been accepted for this year’s CiCLE Classic headed up by Saint Piran with Gabz Cullaigh (pictured winning) expected to spearhead their challenge in this international event

With just over six weeks to go before the 16th edition of the Rutland-Melton International CiCLE Classic taking to the roads again after an absence of two years, plans for the race are now moving sharply into focus. A provisional list of 34 teams have been accepted for this year’s race (see below), although the organisation has indicated that this may
still be subject to a small degree of change should the current situation in Europe affect the ability of any of the teams expected to travel.

Teams (Number range in brackets)
— Saint Piran (1-6) UCI Continental GBR
— Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling (7-12) UCI Continental GBR
— Trinity Racing (13-18) UCI Continental GBR
— ABloc (19-24) UCI Continental NED
— BEAT Cycling Team (25-30) UCI Continental NED
— WPG Amsterdam (31-36) Dutch Elite Team NED
— Great Britain National Team (37-42) National Team GBR
— Java Kiwi Atlantico (43-48) UCI Continental ESP
— EVO Pro Cycling (49-54) UCI Continental IRL
— WiV-SunGod (55-60) UCI Continental GBR
— Latvia National Team (61-66) National Team LAT
— Spectra-Wiggle RT (67-72) UCI Cyclo-Cross Team GBR
— Philippe Wagner (73-78) French Div 1 Team. FRA
— Richardsons-Trek (79-84) BC Elite Dev. Team GBR
— UCD Dublin (85-90) Irish Elite Team IRL
— Cycling Sheffield (91-96) BC Elite Dev. Team GBR
— Embark-Bikestrong (97-102) BC Elite Dev. Team GBR
— Welsh Cycling Academy (103-108) National Team GBR
— Team PB Performance (109-114) BC Elite Dev. Team GBR
— Spirit-BSS RT (115-120) BC Elite Dev. Team GBR
— Dolan-Ellesse (121-126) BC Elite Dev. Team GBR
— SCRT- Muc Off (127-132) BC Elite Dev. Team GBR
— Cycling Munster (133-136) Irish Regional Team IRL
— Nopinz Motip Cycling Team (137-140) British Club Team GBR
— Wheelbase-=Cabtech (141-144) British Club Team GBR
— Spokes Racing Team (145-148) British Club Team GBR
— TBW 23 Stuart Hall (149-152) British Club Team GBR
— JRC-Interflon (153-156) British Club Team GBR
— BC East Midlands Region (157- 160) British Regional Team GBR
— BC NW Region (161-164) British Regional Team GBR
— Stolen Goat (165-168) British Club Team GBR
— LDN-Brother (169-172) British Club Team GBR
— Taap-Cervelo (173-176) British Club Team GBR
— Army CU (177-180) British Army Team GBR

With a total of 34 teams accepted to take part this year the race has once again been heavily oversubscribed with a number of teams having to be disappointed. Several of the smaller domestic teams that have been accepted also having to be limited to the maximum of four riders that are required to start to enable the opportunity for as many of these groupings to participate. “ The continued popularity of the event is very gratifying to the organisation, enhanced this year by the wish by so many to see the event restart and everything get back to normal”, said Race Director Colin Clews, “ this fact being reflected not just by the teams and riders wishing to take part, but by many supporters of the race whose personal contributions have made the race possible once more”.

Recent changes made by the International Cycling Union to the maximum distance that the race can cover, has necessitated adaptions to the course from previous years, but additional passages of existing special sectors are promised as is a repeat of the successful introduction of the Wymondham circuits shortly after the race start. All Britain’s top domestic teams will be represented at the race with several smaller teams and clubs being given the opportunity to show their prowess on home soil against international competition.

In all, over 30 teams are expected to be on the start line in Oakham town centre at 11.00 am on 24th April. As ever, the questions will then be just how many last the challenging 180 kms route to Melton, and who will cross the finish line first in Melton town centre some four and a half hours later. Main sponsors of the event will remain for the 8th year The Giant Store (Rutland Water) and Schwalbe UK. Amongst the main supporting sponsors on this occasion are Melton Bid, Pearces, Jewellers, Carter -Legrand Wealth
Strategies, Metaltech Engineering, Bioracer UK, Tim Norton Motors of Oakham, Manor farm Feeds (Owston), the Grainstore Brewery, Oakham Wines and Moores Estate Agents.