British Cycling

48TH LINCOLN INTERNATIONAL GRAND PRIX 2003

Huw Pritchard (AngliaSport RT) wins last years Lincoln GP.

In just over a week on Sunday May 11, the 48th Lincoln Grand Prix will again take the streets around the historic city of Lincoln. Last year, I was fortunate enough to spend the weekend there (a birthday treat to myself!) and will again be there this year simply because as cities go, Lincoln is big enough to have plenty to see but is not too big that it is a pain to get around. In fact, Lincoln was a joy to go to for lots of reasons like exploring the Castle (where you'll find the Magna Carta) and then there is the city centre for a spot of shopping (not me of course), but the biggest thrill was the bike race.

SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS

For a race as big as this, there are many people and organisations who are curcial to its success. These are just some. The event's major supporter is Lincoln City Council who have been such for the past 20 years. Also playing a major part is the Lincolnshire Echo who as well as providing backing for the race print the race programme free of charge each year is in the form of a 4 page pull out supplement in the previous evening's paper that is received by a large percentage of Lincoln households.

Other sponsors include the Lindum Group, Nat West Bank and LA Fitness. Logistics support comes from well known clothing company Impsport who provide signage and race organisation equipment. British Cycling will also assist in the provision of race equipment. And of course the race couldn't go on without Lincoln City Police who have a 100 officer commitment.
Well known supporters are Joe Cooke and Frank Connell who are well known in the City for their fund raining for charities. Joe is the Mayor's Officer in the City and Frank runs a well know Barber Shop. Last year they helped out at the last moment with a �1,000. This year they have organised a fund raising social evening this coming Saturday with 230 paying guests, some of which we hope to turn in to sponsors for next year.
TMS Land Rover has been a long time supporter of the event and provides most of the official vehicles. The company is also the main sponsor of the Velo Club Lincoln. In the past 4 years we have also had the support of Holland Brother Jaguar who have loaned us vehicles for the event.
BBC Radio Lincolnshire have a really nice outside broadcast bus which will be positioned in the race finish area. This carries all their new IT systems, digital radio demos, internet, etc and they will use this as an OB point all day. BBC Look North have also said that they will give the event coverage.
And the St John Ambulance turn out every year to provide coverage in case of accidents while the race also brings together a set of very experienced race officials who know what to do and their contribution to the success of the race is invaluable with Marshalling carried out by members of the Velo Club Lincoln together with stewards from Lincoln City Football Club. This is a crucial job as they have the task of ensuring that no traffic enters the circuit from side streets within the sterile area between the lead and rear police motorbikes.
We must also mention the householders on the circuit and the motoring public who are now well used to the event and accept the inconveniences caused, without too many serious complaints.

This will be the 48th Lincoln Grand Prix and the 5th time it has appeared on the international calendar with the interest from the foreign teams proof if needed, that they like coming to the race.

However since the win by Saulius Ruskis in 1999, the British riders have kept the visitors off the top step of the podium although last year, one of the Team Down Under riders did make it into third place and onto the podium.

This year, the "foreign" invasion is according to the organiser very strong. The French team is supposed to have a number of "handy" riders who may well spring a surprise on English soil and then there is the late entry of a certain Gordon McCauley, or "Gordy" to those who want to cheer him on. The New Zealand champion, who was said to have given up racing at the start of the year, is now back in Europe and will be bringing one of his "Kiwi" teammates to the event. McCauley is a former Premier Calendar winner and professional in Europe.

As well as the French and a few riders from New Zealand, there are many other teams from abroad including Holland as well as nationals teams from Great Britain, Wales, and Scotland all vying to get onto the podium in one of the UK's biggest cycle races.

And speaking of podiums, you will always see how important this race is to Lincoln by the line of VIPs at the finish line who are then on hand for the prize presentations that are carried out in the finish area with the Mayor and Sheriff of Lincoln presenting the awards, usually accompanied by city councillors and Gillian Merron, the MP for Lincoln, who is also a big supporter of the race. Councillor David Jackson is also the President of the Velo Club Lincoln and the status of the event is largely down to his efforts within the council. He is also a prime mover behind obtaining the closed racing circuit at the Yarborough Leisure Centre from where the event starts each year.

The unique thing about the race is that it isn't often that these days we get to see bike races entering the centre of a place like Lincoln, and not once but over and over again for four or more hours. And when the centre of that picturesque city has a steep cobbled climb, with the riders bouncing over the cobbles at speed passing by historic buildings including Lincoln's Castle, it isn't just a bike race you're witnessing but an event for all the family to enjoy.

In other words, even if you don't like bike racing (and of course you do!), travelling to Lincoln for this event is always worthwhile! To learn more about Lincoln including with some happy snaps of mine from last year, click here!

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Below: There is always a number of VIPs on the finish line at Lincoln, seeing the race from the comfort of one of the TMS vehicles or from the area next to the finish. The Mayor and Sheriff of Lincoln can be seen presenting the awards, usually accompanied by city councillors and Gillian Merron, the MP for Lincoln, who is also a big supporter of the race.

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