News: CiCLE Classic 2024

With 174 riders from 21 nations spread across 33 teams, the Sigma Sports/Schwalbe UK sponsored 18th Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic on Sunday 28th April looks set to once again offer the greatest challenge so far this season to Britain’s best

News: CiCLE Classic 2024
Sunday, 28th April, 2024

A British win for the CiCLE Classic in 2024?
Just over three weeks remain before the 18th edition of the Sigma Sports/ Schwalbe UK Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic takes to the roads of Rutland and East Leicestershire once more.

With 174 riders from 21 nations spread across 33 teams, the 18th Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic on Sunday 28th April looks set to once again offer the greatest challenge so far this season to Britain’s best cycle road racing specialists.

TEAMS
1-6 — Saint Piran
7-12 — Cycling Sheffield
13-18 — Park Hotel Valkenburg
19-24 — I/Premier Tech Academy
25-30 — WPG Amsterdam
31-36 — PB Performance
37-42 — Novapor Speedbike
43-48 — BC South West Region
49-54 — Torres-Trigon
55-60 — X Speed United
61-66 — Scotland
67-72 — BC East Midlands – Carter Legrand
73-78 — Thriva-SCRT
79-84 — Spirit -BSS
85-90 — Richardson-Trek
91-96 — Huub-BCC RT
97-102 — Shibden-A Fawcett RT
103-108 — Wheelbase-Cabtech-Castelli
109-114 — BC South East Region-Sigma Sports
115-120 — Project 1
121-126 — Spectra-Racing
127-130 — Ribble Rebellion
131-134 — Halesowen A&AC -Mapei
135-138 — Stolen Goat Racing Team
139-142 — Leadout Performance-NE Racing
143-146 — The Cycling Academy
147-150 — Moonglu RT
151-154 — Ride Revolution
155-158 — Beeston RC
159-162 — Mud Dock RT
163-166 — Trainsharp-Orro
167-170 — TekkerZ
171-174 — Taap-Kalas

THE COURSE

The final two sectors in Stapleford Park

Over a 185 kms course around and over the toughest roads and farm tracks that Rutland and East Leicestershire can offer, the course slightly revised from previous years will provide an even greater test to the international field of competitors.

Following on just six weeks after the Women’s and Junior Men’s races of the same name, the organisers are hoping for improved weather conditions on this occasion, but come fine or wet weather, the race goes on with the winner taking home the £2000 plus first prize together with a host of potential intermediate wards for those less fortunate to take the top prize.

– Pre-Race HQ: Catmose Campus Sports Centre, Huntmans Drive, Oakham LE15 6RP
– Race Start: 11am
– Post Race HQ: Longfield Academy, Hampson Performance Centre, Ambleside Way, Off Leicester Road, Melton Mowbray. LE123 0BN

“ We are delighted that the area once again hosts Britain’s ONLY single day international road race for Elite men in 2024, an accolade that we relish, although remain sad that no other domestic events have sought to offer international racing”, said Race Director Colin Clews.

He continued, “The race continues to be the standard bearer for British racing at international level, and its unique character, mimicking the Northern European Spring Classic races makes it an event that everyone aspires to win. With neither the foreign winners of the 2022 and 2023 editions of the race being entered on this occasion, the opportunity for a British winner in 2024 provides a new dynamic to the event which already possess so many twists and turns before the finish line is reached.”

Several course changes have taken place with this year’s course. Certain changes have been required as at the earlier Women’s and Junior Men’s races necessitated by the Melton Distributor Road development, meaning that the rough section of Sawgate Lane is no longer practical to be included.

However, the passages of Stapleford Estate late in the race will be included, and also , an entirely new sector of private road/track near Wymondham very early in the race. Both these sections are expected to provide a more combative race for all, and also enhance the spectator experience.

At Wymondham, the race will pass through the village and the Berkeley Arms public house five times and then at Owston where there will once again be a bar serving Belgian Kwaremont beer alongside the usual BBQ and race commentary.

THE ROUTE DESCRIPTION (summary)
Get your map out and read the following to know where you going when during this exciting classic!

GREEN route on the map
1. Start in Oakham (presentation before race)

2. Race leaves Oakham and heads out to Wymondham where the riders do three laps, one small and two larger loops. Then, loop 4 contains a new sector – number 12, Mataberg. Photographers note, there are parts of this sector that cannot be photographed. Check with the organisation.

3. After sector 12, the riders return to Oakham via Burley. After Oakham, there is a loop at Barleythorpe (involves climbing a hill!) on resurfaced roads and on to Langham.

4. The riders then head to the Cold Overton berg (KOM) before heading off to the tough sector Somerberg (Sector 10) for the first time.

5. After Somerberg for the first time, the riders race to Owston and then out of and up over Newbold Manor (feeding zone) before a lumpy ride to Burrough on the Hill (KoM) before descending to Marefield and then Owston.

Somerberg

YELLOW route on the map
6. From Owston, the riders race to Pickwell and then over a section of road called Stygate before heading to Leesthorpe, Little Dalby, Burrough on the Hill (KoM) and back to Owston via the descent down the Newbold Manor sector.

BLUE route on map
7. From Owston, the race heads to Pickwell again where they veer right across Stygate and at the end, turn right at the main road (A606) and down the main road to right again to Cold Overton Berg (KoM).

8. After the KoM, the race heads down towards Somerby and just before the village, turns left and races across Somerberg again (sector 7) before returning to Owston.

Owston

RED route on the map
9. The race heads through Owston and out of the village via Newbold Manor to Burrough on the Hill (KoM) and then back to Owston via the Marefield descent.

10. In Owston the riders do 2 laps before heading to Somerberg (sector 3) in the opposite direction to the first two times before they start the finale of the race and race through Somerby, Pickwell and across Stygate for a final time to the main road (A606).

11. From there, they turn right off the main road to towards Cuckooberg (KoM) then Stapleford Park for the first time (sector 2) and off to Melton Mowbray for the first time too.

12. Finally, the race heads out of Melton Mowbray on the finishing circuit to Burton Lazars before heading to Stapleford for the second time (sector 1) and then finally, Melton Mowbray and that FINISH!

THE SECTORS

THE HOTSPOTS

KOMS

The day prior to the international race is an all comers Sportif ride of 50 and 100 kms to be will be held on Saturday 27th April, starting and finishing from the Sigma Sports shop in South Street, Oakham.

Entry details as follows:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-sigma-sports-cicle-classic-sportif-tickets-779392292327?aff=ebdsoporgprofile