Cycling stars launch
National Cycle Road Race - Sat 20th February Media
Launch
Media launch:
Saturday 20 February
12.30 pm
Roughlee Village Centre
Cycling fever is breaking out in
Pendle as some of Britain's top cyclists take to the
hills to try out the
National Champions Elite Road Race
circuit for the first time.
Their visit is four months ahead
of the main event, as organisers talk with residents and
fine-tune plans for the exciting 2010 Championships to
be held in Pendle on Sunday 27th June.
The event will attract Britain's
best cyclists and will be a vital test for them in the
run up to the Tour de France which follows straight
after this National Championship.
Earby based market leading holiday
accommodation provider Cottages4you has just announced
that they are sponsoring this high profile event.
Cyclists
Chris Boardman
Cyclists at the February launch
will include Olympic gold medallist and record breaking
cyclist Chris Boardman. He'll be riding the National Road
Race circuit around Barley with veteran Pete Matthews.
Pete Matthews
Pete, who was the national
champion in 1968, also designed one of Chris Boardman's
top bikes and is still the national champion in his over
65s age group.
Tony Hewson
They will be joined by Tony
Hewson, author and pioneer British rider in the Tour de
France, and Alan Gornall, a previous Commonwealth Games
Gold Medal-winning cyclist who now lives in
Barnoldswick.
Paul Oldham
Pendle's own leading cyclist, Paul
Oldham from Trawden, will also be riding the new 7.5
mile route which starts and finishes in Barley village.
Pendle
Pendle Council's Director of
Regeneration, Brian Cookson, who's also President of
British Cycling, said:
"This is a fantastic opportunity
for some top British riders, past and present, to try
out this new route ahead of the National Championship in
June.
"The races this summer will bring
a much needed boost to our tourism economy, helping many
local businesses in Barley, Roughlee and Newchurch and
right across Pendle."
Leader of the Council, Councillor
John David said:
"Tourism is worth over £77 million
to Pendle already - yet so many people say they haven't
heard of our beautiful corner of England.
"This is our chance to put the
area on the map.
"There will be television coverage
and people will be able to see for themselves what a
wonderful area Pendle is.
"The race will take place around
the villages that regularly pick up best kept villages
awards."
He added:
"Although this will be a major
event for Pendle, I am concerned that some residents
will be very considerably inconvenienced.
"It is our job to plan for and
deal with these problems. We will certainly treat these
difficulties very seriously so that the event will be as
enjoyable as possible and free from hassle for local
people.
"Residents can call us on 01282
661661 with any questions or concerns."
Cottages4you
Geoff Cowley, Managing Director of
event sponsors Cottages4you, said:
Cottages4You
"As a leading provider of holiday
accommodation based in Pendle, we're proud to be
supporting this national event which is coming to our
area.
"It will certainly support rural
businesses including many of our self catering cottage
businesses.
"We're passionate about cycling
and about Pendle - it promises to be an exhilarating
weekend for residents and visitors alike."
National CycloSportive
And don't forget the
National
Cyclo-Sportive event which will take place on Saturday
26th June, the day before the big race.
It will give amateur cyclists the
chance to try out some of the route the professionals
will ride the following day.
Both races offer cyclists the
perfect weekend in the area - to ride through some of
the best countryside in England then watch the country's
best cyclists!
There's plenty of accommodation
available locally - look on
www.visitpendle.com to see
the range of accommodation available.
About the National Road Race
Championships
This race will replace the Tour of
Pendle, which has been run successfully for four years,
and builds on the annual Cycle-Fest attraction in
Pendle.
Sunday 27 June includes the Elite
Men and Elite Women's races, with over 300 cyclists
taking part.
Olympic medallists Bradley
Wiggins, Pendle's own Steven Burke alongside the newly
formed SKY Pro Cycling Team will be battling it out with
up to 120 riders including Tour de France multiple stage
winner Mark Cavendish.
In the Women's event, Olympic Gold
and Silver medallists Nicole Cooke and Emma Pooley will
be fighting for the right to wear the coveted national
champion's jersey for a year.
For further information please
contact: Sarah Lee, Communications Manager, Chief
Executive's Policy Unit, Pendle Council, Town Hall,
Market Street, Nelson, BB9 7LG
Tel: 01282 661988
Fax: 01282 661630
Email: sarah.lee@pendle.gov.uk
PR 1515