‘Cycling Weekly’ readers “Most exciting British one day race of 2006”
“Britain’s ONLY single day international cycle road race”
Following the recent accolade of being voted “Cycling Weekly” readers choice of Britain’s most exiting single day race in 2006, new associate sponsors and the first continental signings to the 2007 Rutland – Melton CiCLE Classic on Sunday 29th April, suggest that this years race looks set to be even more exciting than ever.
With the races primary sponsors, East Midlands Airport and Masterfoods having increased their sponsorship to enable the race to become a UCI international calendar event for the first time, the addition of the Thistle Hotel at East Midlands Airport provides the vital accommodation link that the race will increasingly require for visiting teams and officials. Ginsters, a part of the Samworth Brothers group have also agreed to be the official sandwich provider to the 150 officials now involved in the race, and NFU Mutual aligns itself with the race as an intermediary sprint prize sponsor. Rapha, a specialist cycling clothing company based in London have also come forward to sponsor the competitor’s numbers for the CiCLE Classic, and also the new mass participation Rutland-Melton CiCLE Challenge planned to take place on Sunday 20th May.
Meanwhile, entries for the CiCLE Classic are already arriving, and the first continental team to be confirmed is the PZ Racing Team from Aachen which includes 30-34 age group 2006 World Road Masters Champion Tjarco Kuppens of The Netherlands. A six times winner in 2006 in the hard racing world of Belgian and Dutch racing, Kuppens comes to the race with a reputation and a supporting squad that will require respect from the top British riders.
The new events added to the Rutland-Melton CiCLE programme, are however likely to cause major interest after the Classic has taken place. Entering the very popular British ‘Cyclo-Sportif’ scene, the CiCLE Challenge will comprise two events on the same day. Starting and finishing in Melton, there will be a 180 kms ride for the experienced rider, as well as a 30 kms leisure ride for anyone to take part in. Both events will take in a number of special sectors of ‘off road’ riding which has created the unique atmosphere of the CiCLE Classic. The aim of the 30 kms event will be to encourage anyone to try for the first time, or return to cycling after some years away.
“The CiCLE Challenge offers an opportunity for families and individuals to get involved in cycling, initially as a leisure activity, but hopefully later as a more enjoyable form of transport in and around Melton”, said CiCLE Director Colin Clews. “ The Challenge has attracted a great deal of support locally for its aims, with the Melton Borough Council, Melton Times, Melton Active Local Sports Alliance, Town Estate and the Rotary Club of Melton Mowbray all are pledging their support for this ground breaking event. The CiCLE Classic has created a unique opportunity for the local community to become involved in supporting and seeing a top class sporting event on their doorsteps, but the challenge is converting that interest into greater personal activity, and contributing to making Melton a healthier place to live and travel within. All the above organisations see this as an aim worth pursuing. Anyone, young or old, with a bicycle, will be able and capable of completing the 30 kms ride which will offer a midway point of the café facilities of Wymondham Windmill as an incentive.”