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Preview: Rutland - Melton CiCLE Classic

Source: Race Director, Colin Clews
Event Date: 17 April 2011 | Race Details

Flashback to the 2009 event - dry means dusty.....wet means muddy. Either way, it's a challenge!

With ten foreign teams taking part, involving riders from 17 different nations spread over the 32 participating teams, this year's TESCO Rutland - Melton CiCLE Classic presented by CNP sports nutrition is set to be the most international edition yet of this most unique and challenging race.

Now in its seventh year, the event has created even more interest than ever before with ten further foreign teams requests for invites having to be turned down over the past three weeks. In addition over 40 British riders unable to meet the strict team entry requirements for participants in international races have had their entries returned.

Race Director, Colin Clews said: " The event has always been extremely popular, but the unprecedented interest shown this year is an indicator not only of the event's growing international reputation, but sadly also a reflection upon the increasing loss of similar events across Europe as would be sponsors re-assess their publicity investments."

"That we have new title sponsors, and supporting sponsors such as Dolmio (MARS UK), the Melton Building Society and Manor Farm Feeds who have been with us now for the full seven years is a remarkable achievement for which everyone associated with the race can be rightly proud and appreciative. The continuing strong interest amongst the local community that is so visible and audible throughout Rutland and Melton shows just what a great ‘free' sporting event that has been created for our area and nationally,."

Once again the CiCLE Classic remains Britain's only international single day road race this year and will boast representation from all of Britain's big teams with the exception of Team Sky who are ineligible as they compete at the very highest level of the sport. This does not mean that the CiCLE Classic will lack any quality however, with past winners such as Malcolm Elliott (2007) and former Paris Roubaix winner Magnus Backstedt returning to the Classic after a year's absence. No one has yet won the race twice, but this year Michael Berling from Denmark, will wear number 1 as last years winner following his second and third places respectively in the 2009 and 2008 editions of the race.

The biggest ever foreign representation in the race consists of 10 Teams from Spain, France, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Sweden, two teams from Ireland and three from Belgium. These teams bring to the race an even greater international flavour and atmosphere to the race, which has such a distinctive ‘Spring Classics' style course.

The course will again take in on and off road sections with the notorious ‘Somerberg' section to be covered twice and the final ‘killer' 600 metres section of Sawgate lane coming just two kilometres before the Melton Town Centre finish just after 15.00 hrs. The finish will be preceeded for a third year by the local St Georges Day parade ensuring a large and appreciative crowd to welcome home the competitors who have survived the punishing 105 mile course, which will be completed in just over four hours from the 11.00 am start in Oakham town Centre.
An Italian fair will again accompany the start which will be reported upon live by Rutland Radio and attended by the MP for Rutland and Melton, the Rt. Hon. Alan Duncan.

The organisation have made several minor course amendments this year, leaving in the additional ascent of ‘Cold Overtonberg' introduced for the first time last year, which again forms part of the King of the Bergs (hills) competition, this year sponsored by the aptly named Corporate Ascents.com. Remedial work has been carried out to both ‘Somerberg' and ‘Sawgate lane' in recent weeks to ensure that they are in the best possible condition for racing, and most importantly a further 45 metres have been added to the finish straight in Sherrard Street, Melton, which should make the finish there even more exciting.

The race will be run off on closed roads secured  once again by the Leicestershire Constabulary at all key points, and a measure of how proficient they are now considered to be at this process is that representatives of the police forces responsible for the Olympic Games are attending the CiCLE Classic to accompany the lead police officer and the race Director on the route.

Local interest this year will centre on just two riders, both from Oakham. Evergreen James Cambridge, a former member of Melton Olympic rides again after several impressive performance in previous years, and is joined by fellow Oakham resident Ryan Henry who after suffering bad luck several times, feels that he has a ‘score' to settle with this most unforgiving of races.

As a prelude to the race the following day, on the afternoon of Saturday 16th April around 14.00 hrs a team car and riders from one of the competing teams will be in attendance at TESCO stores in Oakham and Melton to sign autographs and answer any question as about the race. Race programmes will also be available at that time.

A full list of the competing teams is given below, the final line up for each to be finalised in accordance with international regulations only the day prior to the race.

Team List

1 Glud & Marstrand Denmark UCI
2 Endura Great Britain UCI
3 KTM - Murcia Spain UCI
4 Raleigh Great Britain UCI
5 Velo 29 Great Britain
6 IRELAND National Team Ireland
7 AC Sparta Praha Czech Republic UCI
8 ESEG DOUAI France
9 East Midlands Region Great Britain
10 Rapha - Sharp - Condor Great Britain UCI
11 Motorpoint- Marshals Pasta Great Britain UCI
12 Sigma Sport - Specialised Great Britain UCI
13 Team Corley Cycles Great Britain
14 Deschuytter-Westkerke Belgium
15 Hand in Hand Espoirs (Baal) Belgium
16 Twenty3C - Orbea Great Britain
17 Asfra-Flanders Belgium
18 TEAM UK YOUTH Great Britain
19 CyclePremier-Metaltek Great Britain
20 Herbalife-Wheelbase Great Britain
21 Pasta Montegrappa- Zheroquadro Great Britain
22 Felt-Colbornes RT Great Britain
23 Primal Europe-Rutraining-Ricci Great Britain
24 Pendragon-Colnago-Le Col Great Britain
25 Team Qoros Great Britain
26 Sportscover - BBM Great Britain
27 Hargroves Cycles - Trant Great Britain
28 Forme-Procycliste-SanLamere Great Britain
29 ViCiOUS Velo Great Britain
30 Team Sport Active Ireland
31 Renault Rotor Colbert RT Great Britain
32 GWR Team -Swindon Cycles Great Britain

Where to see the race.

After the Start in Oakham, Rutland, the riders take in two laps of Rutland Water before returning through Oakham (hot spot). The remainder of the race then takes place in and around the A606 road between Oakham and Melton Mowbray. Mostly to the south of this road and then shortly before the finish reverts to the north side before entering the A606 to finish in the heart of Melton.

It is possible to see the start in Oakham; see the riders complete their first lap of Rutland Water and then to make your way to Owston to 'really' enjoy the race at its best. By leaving Owston after the races penultimate passage of the village it is possible to reach Melton well in time to see the finish. In and around Owston are a number of special sectors which hacve to be seen to be believed. Ask any of the marshals for guidance on how to find ‘Green Lane' and ‘The Farmyard' in particular.

At both the start and finish full supporting events are being organised to ensure that spectators are kept properly entertained. In addition to the natural attraction of seeing the race at these points in the main town centres, the course offers a number of natural spectator points. Recommended spectator points are Owston Village (6 race passages) or Burrough on the Hill (4 race passages.)

If new to the race make sure however that you witness the truly awe inspiring passage of ‘Somerberg' special sector. The race takes this in twice. Whereas the second passage may present problems of getting to the Melton finish line, after the second passage of Owston it is possible to getvto this sector although entry is only from the Somerby side.

At Burrough on the Hill ‘Grants' public house (Sponsor of a hill prime) offers itself as a welcome on route hostelry, but please ensure ALL cars are parked off the race route.

At Owston, the village hall committee is again organising provision of official off road parking, on route barbeques and toilet facilities. The village in very compact and it is possible to see the riders more than once on most passages by walking just a short distance. They are pleased to welcome race followers as their guests for the day.

(n.b. From 9.00 the ‘Youth CiCLE Classic ‘ races are taking place in and around Owston. Please follow signs to the allocated parking areas and please do not park on any roadways as this may cause inconvenience to other spectators and residents, as well as possibly obstructing the race. Thank you.)

Please be aware that on the minor roads around Owston and Burrough in particular vehicle access will be strictly controlled, so please follow any instructions given by marshals, and ensure that you park well off the roads being used for the race.