NEWS FOR FEBRUARY

CHANNEL ATLANTIQUE NEEDS ENTRIES

UNDER 23 NATIONAL SERIES: ROUND 1
Channel Atlantique Espoirs Road Race - 23rd March.

Race organiser, Matt Southam, reports disappointingly low entry numbers for the first round of the National Under 23 (Espoirs) Series being held in Penzance, approximately 120 miles southwest of Exeter in the picturesque and tourist region of Cornwall.

His event, a brand new fixture on the calendar, in an extremely attractive part of the country certainly deserves better so if you are a Senior Rider born 1981-1984 or a Junior with British Cycling Dispensation, you are encouraged to support this event and one of the hardest working promoters in the country.

Your support will help ensure that the event remains on the calendar for future years and give aspiring riders a chance to pit themselves against some overseas opposition, with entries having been received from a Dutch team, keen to take on the Brits.

The race is based at 'St Just',a few miles out side Penzance and is on a 15 mile undulating circuit with a couple of climbs as well. The riders cover this circuit five times, giving a race distance of 75 miles (130km) total. Matt tells us that it should have been 90miles but it was thought that this early in the season, 75 was enough.

The circuit was last used approximately 10 years ago and is being promoted on behalf of the the division who are thinking that as a whole, that we ought to in future years run a number of national races.

So we have now in the counties of Devon, Cornwall and South Somerset, a junior one, and under 23 event and a Premier Calendar. This under 23 event however is a trial run which is why Matt is so keen for it to be a succes. And with a Dutch team signed up as well as a Great Britain team, the race will be a good time for riders keen on making an impression, to get themselves down to Cornwall.

And for those unsure about travelling down to Cornwall, Matt tell us as well that with the race being on the Sunday, that there is always Saturday to explore the wonderful attractions around the region.

S.West
Channel Atlantique RR (BC National Espoirs RR) - Penzance
E.1.2.3.4 120km 13:00 �11.00 (�16.00)
Cheques to: Penzance Wheelers
Entry restricted to those born 1981 or later. Plus Juniors with HQ dispensation
Matthew Southam , Edge of the Green, Praa Sands, Cornwall TR20 9TB
01736 763851 southam50@hotmail.com