Massive Field Takes on CiCLE Classic Challenge

 

Story posted April 21

Source: Race Press Release

 

East Midlands International CiCLE Classic – Sunday 27th April 2008

A massive field of 180 riders from nine countries will take the start of this years East Midlands International CiCLE Classic making the field the biggest ever to have lined up on Britain’s roads outside of the Tour de France. Whilst the course remains largely unchanged from the 2007 edition; except for the resurfacing of the initial Stygate special sector of the race; the recent poor weather suggests that this years race will be the hardest ever with the notorious ‘Somerberg’ special sector waiting to greet the unwary and less able amongst the massive field.

 

The race continues to prompt greater local interest than ever in cycle sport in the East Midlands, and with an Italian fair planned to be held in association with the race start in Oakham at 11.00 on Sunday 27th April, more spectators than ever are expected to see this fourth edition of the unique and spectacular race take place.

Last years winner and runner up, Britain’s Malcolm Elliott of Pinarello and Ian Wilkinson of Science in Sport both return to try their hand once again, whilst third placed rider in 2007, Michael Skelde of Denmark, returns this time as manager of a young and talented  Danish based Glud & Marstrand squad.

 

The East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and MARS UK sponsored race will once again feature various intermediate competitions such as the East Midlands Airport ‘High Flyer’ King of the Hills, and the Melton Building Society ‘Most Aggressive rider’ awards in addition to NFU Mutual Hot spot sprints competitions in Oakham Town Centre and in the real ‘heartland’ of the race, the tiny village of Owston where the crowds are once again expected to congregate, ‘warmed up’ by the CiCLE Classic Kermesse race for lower category riders earlier in the day.

 

A barbeque and beverages will once again be on offer to the spectators who flock to Owston welcomed by the villagers whose reputation has been enhanced by its absorbtion in the race, which is now being taken up by other local viIllages such as Whissendine which appears on the race route again just eight miles from the finish line in Melton Mowbray’s Sherrard Street.

 

Just who will fight out the finish of this years race waits to be seen, but with the organisers having given attention to the increased provision of neutral wheel and service support this year, all those unlucky enough to puncture on the worst roads that the course throws in their way, will hopefully have greater opportunity of rejoining the leaders, if they have the ability to do so.

 

The East Midlands is represented again by a team sponsored by emda and although they are unlikely to feature in the top places, this generous sponsorship gives the opportunity to six young local riders to participate in an event at the highest level which they may not have otherwise obtained.

 

With several British based riders representing foreign based squads returning in order to contest the CiCLE Classic this year, it shows the growing reputation that the race is building for itself through the severity of the course and the level of competition that it engenders amongst all those wishing to take on the challenge it presents.

 

Several of the continental teams taking part such as Dukla Merida Trenchin from Slovakia and Irelands newest professional squad, Pezula, have spent the past winter racing in the far east and Pezula will arrive fresh from encouraging performances against the very top teams in the world in the recent Presidential Tour in Turkey where Cieron Power once agin showed why only a few years ago he was being courted by some of the biggest teams in Europe.

Stygate for the final time and Gordon McCauley attacks the break.

 

The CiCLE Classic has come along way in a short space of time” said Race Director Colin Clews,” and the fact that several teams are planning to reconnoitre the course over the week leading up to race day shows the respect that the riders have for the truly unique course that the race presents, and the importance that a good perfomance in the race now represents and means to so many riders."

 

"Any winner of the race needs luck, but they need even more the physical and mental strength required of the very best to remain at the front of a race which is truly unrelenting,  from the initial breakneck speed of the compact bunch around the two laps of Rutland Water to the final strength sapping and gruelling climb of Sawgate Lane into Burton Lazers, and then the final off road section before the descent into historic Melton. Everyone that survives should be considered a modern day gladiator.

 

Only one can win, but everyone will have a tale to tell of their day in the 2008 CiCLE Classic!”    

 

 

RIDERS
Pinarrello R T  (GBr)
D.S: GRIFFITHS, Phil
1.  ELLIOTT, Malcolm
2.  DOWNING, Russell
3.  JOHANSSON, Freddy
4.  DAVIS, Lee 
5.  MURRAY, Tom
6.  WILLIAMS, Peter 

 

Profel – Prorace (BEL)
D.S: JACOBS, Frans.
7.  BLUEKENS, Jan
8.  BOGAERT, Ward
9.  ONGENA, Thomas
10.  SHAND, Daniel
11.  Van den EEKKHOUT, Kevin
12.  VANDERAERDEN, Michael 

 

Plowman Craven (GBr)
D.S: BECKETT, Gary
13.  MILLARD, James
14.  GAYWOOD, Simon
15.  RICHARDSON, Simon
16.  BARRAS, Tom
17.  OLIPHANT, Evan
18. 

 

Dukla Merida Tren. (SLO)
D.S:  KVETAN, Vendolin
19.  KOVAC, Maros
20.  SIPEKY, Jan
21.  BRONIS, Roman
22.  POLIEVKA, Pavol
23.  VYSNA, Matej
24.  ZACHAR, Branislav

 

Rapha -  Recycling  (GBr)
D.S: HERETY, John
25.  DOWNING, Dean
26.  BRIGGS, Graham
27.  HOLT, Simon
28.  DIGGLE, Tom
29.  ROWE, Matt
30.  LLOYD, Rhys 

 

Science in Sport (GBr)
D.S: BIBBY, Phil
31.  WILKINSON, Ian
32.  COLLINS, Dave
33.  KENT, Richard
34.  WILKINSON, Richard
35.  LAWSON, Tim
36. 

 

SigmaSpt.-Specialised GBr)
D.S: STEPHENS, Matt
37.  STEPHENS, Matthew
38.  HARRISON, Mike
39.  DUDUID, Dan
40.  SWINTHENBANK, Neil
41.  WILLIAMSON, James
42.  BYE, Andrew 

 

Glud & Marstrand  (DEN)
D.S: SKELDE, Michael
43  BOCHMANN, Lasse
44  KNORR, Christian
45  NIELSEN KIM, Marius
46  SCHJONNEMANN, Kaspar
47  ODGAARD  N., Jasper
48  OLESEN, Nicholaj 

 

BC East Mids Devel. A (GBr)
49.  WILLCOCKS, Robert
50.  FOSTUN, Matt
51.  BEETHAM, Geoff
52.  HENRY, Ryan
53.  JENNINGS, Matt
54.  BARRETT, Matt 

 

KFS Special vehicles (GBr)
D.S: LODGE, Harry
55.  DAFYDD, Dylan
56. FREND, Kieren
57. HEWITT, Gareth
58. ROCHE, Greg
59. STEWART, James
60. POPHAM-SYKES, Richard 

 

Pearl Izumi-Planet X (GBr)
D.S: WHITE, Eddy
61.  DEINERT, Raphael
62.  MOZLEY, Jon
63.  HOLOHAN, Liam
64.  ADAMS, Stephen
65.  JANSSEN, Jeroen
66.  JONES, Matthew 

 

Pedalpower.org.uk (Scotld.)
D.S: HAND, James
67.   HAND, Gary
68.   MURDOCH, Gordon
69.   COATS, Paul
70.   MACRAE, Scott
71.   LINES, David
72.

 

Glendene (GBr)-Beveren
D.S: PARKER, Simon
73.  THOMPSON, Ben
74.  TALBOT, Matt
75.  JOUBERT, Andri
76.  GRIFFITHS, Andrew  
77.
78. 

 

Ruiter De Kappellen (NED)
D.S. TABAK, Paul
79.  BOS, Jan
80.  VAN WEL, Ruud
81.  SLAGTER, Tom
82.  LELIVELD, Dennis
83.  TESSELAAR, Jody
84.  STEIGENGA, Sierd 

 

Pezula (IRL)
D.S: O’LOUGHLIN, Brian
85  O’LOUGHLIN, David
86  POWER, Ciaran
87  FOX, Morgan
88  CONNOR, Ryan
89  IRVINE, Martin
90  BURKE, Derek 

 

BC West Midlands (GBr)
D.S: ADAMS, Mike
91  ADAMS, Ross
92  CLINTON, Matt
93  FORD, Martin
94  ADAMS, Euan
95  MAGNIER, Andrew
96  CORBETT, Eddie 

 

Team Corley Cycles (GBr)
D.S: HOOPER, Dick
97.   CHAMBERLAIN, Roy
98.   WORDSWORTH, Mark
99.  HIGGINS, Matthew
100.  CARTLAND, Richard
101.  FREEMAN, Karl
102. FREEMAN, Martin 

 

International All Stars
Mixed
103.  OLDHAM, Paul            GBr
104.  GRANDI, Alessandro   ITA
105.  SPENCE, Warrick        NZL
106.  ATKINS, Alex               GBr
107.  MORIARTY, Eugene    IRL
108.  O’SULLIVAN, Stephen IRL

 

Kinesis UK (GBr)
D.S: TRUETT, Chris
109.  SAMPSON, James
110.  KILHAM, Kit
111.  CRONSHAW, Matt
112.  PULLAR, Jack
113.  JAMES, Josh
114.  LAST, Tom  

 

Felt / Planet X/ Halfords Bikehut Mixed (GBr)
115.  BERGFELT, William
116.  JAMIESON, Duncan
117.   BOOTH, Dan
118.  LOVATT, Mark
119.  HAYLES, Rob             
120.  SOUTHAM, Tom 

 

Cycling Bargains RT (GBr)
D.S: FREEMAN, Rod
121.  HEMMANT, Tom
122.  DYSON, Carl
123.  BOOTH, Martin
124.  MASON, Richard
125. EADON, Martin
126. PALMER, David 

 

ARCTIC-Premier RT (GBr)
D.S: FINCH, Rob
127  WILSON, Simon
128  MASON, Jon-Kris
129  CRAWFORTH, Jody
130  HOLMES, David
131  LAW, David
132  TULLET, Andrew

 

Isle of Man National Team
133.  HATCHER, Graeme
134.  FLYNN, Warren
135.
136.
137.
138. 

 

GoSportspex /Ashfield (GBr)
139. CHARITY, Matthew
140. WEBSTER, Wayne
141. STUART, Andrew
142. LOVELL, Owain
143.
144. 

 

Mixed Team (GBr)
145.  LAMPIER, Steve
146.  OLIVER, Graham
147.  ADAMSON, Gary
148.  HUMPHESON, Sam
149.  HORTON, Tobyn
150.

 

PCA/Ciclos U / Whyte(GBr)
151.  WHATLING, James
152.  PATTEN, Daniel
153.  FRANKLIN, Ian
154.  KOGAN, Daniel
155.  BRYANT, Martin
156.  SMITH, Luke

 

Sports Beans – Willier
157.  PERRY, Marc
158.  WHENHAM, Billy-Joe
159.  THWAITES, Mark
160.  BIALOBLOCKI, Marcin
161.  BAYTON, Grant
162.  COULSON, Dave

 

Inkland – MTS/ Kuota/Biemme Mixed
163.  TIFFEN, Darren
164.  POLSON, Sean
165.  COWELL, Leigh
166.
167.
168.

Mixed Team (GBr)
169. BLYTHE, Simon (RAF)
170. ROBINSON, Matt (All Terr)
171. TIERNAN-LOCKE, Jon
172. COOMBS, Wayne (VCP)
173. 
174.

 

Mixed Team (GBr)
175.  PEMBROKE, Darrell
176. FRIEL, Robert
177. MARSHALL, Michael
178.  JONES, Neil
179.
180.

 

BC P M Mixed Team (GBr)
181.  RICHARDSON, George
182.  GRAVES, Philip
183.  WILSON, Ben
184.
185.
186.

 

BC Central / MK Select
187.  MARTIN, Thomas
188. JONES, Nicholas
189.  KIRK, Tom  
190.  SEATON, Matt
191.
192

 

Team Lacuna
193.  ORR, Robert
194.  CLARKE, David
195.  SMITH, Daniel
196.   WILLIAMSON, Richard
197.   EAGERS, Andy
198.
199.
200.