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Top Belgian Cyclo-Cross Riders Target Rutland!

News updatedJanuary 13, Event: Sunday 17th January; Event Press Release; Event Website

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The absence of a professional cyclo-cross race in Belgium this coming weekend due to the proximity of the World Cup at Roubaix is proving to be a boost for the British Cycling National Trophy race at Rutland Water with last weeks Belgian Championship fourth placed rider Rob Peeters and 13th placed Kenneth van Copernolle on the start sheet for the final round of the series. With a large group of Belgian riders heading to the event, the Elite Men's race will have a truly international flavour and give the British riders a target to aim for on the snow covered Rutland Water based course.

Race organiser Colin Clews is quite excited by the prospect of a classic race unfolding next Sunday and said "In Belgium, the selections for the World Championships at the end of January were made after last weeks National Championships but well after the selection for the Cyclo-cross World cup race in Roubaix this coming weekend."

"As  a consequence, several riders who are now going to the Worlds race have found themselves without a race this weekend in Belgium as no organiser there was willing to promote one on the same day as the World Cup event just on their southern border. So, with the choice of travelling or being without a race,  several of the top Belgians have therefore asked and been accepted to come to Rutland."

"To say I am delighted is an understatement and to put it into context when I received the call from Rob last night, I felt like a village football club secretary receiving a call from David Beckham asking if he could come and play on our meagre pitch! Whilst we do not view the Rutland venue at the idyllic Rutland Water Park as anything other than ‘meagre’, it is great to have such riders as Rob and Kenneth as well as Ben Berden riding our testing British 'cross course."

The programme for Sunday at the beautiful Rutland Water venue, provided by Anglian Water gets underway at 10.30 with the Juniors and Womens race with the Elite Men’s race with all the top visitors starting at 14.15 for one hour of furious racing.

International riders for the event: Jan van Dael, Angelo de Clercq, Ben   Berden, Thomas  Vernaeckt, Chris Lapere, Bjorn  Roeselaerre, KennethVan Copernolle and Rob Peters.  "It' s going to be one HELL of a race!" Colin says. British Cycling will be there to capture the action!

Rutland County International CiCLE Classic ‘Cross

2008, such a long time ago, and Nick Craig races along the shores of Rutland Water. In 2010, Nick is entered for the Veteran's event.

Next Sunday (Sunday, 17th January), the second Rutland County Rutland County CiCLE Classic ‘Cross races will be held and everything is now in place for the biggest ‘showdown’ of the British Winter cyclo-cross season. Not only does the main Elite Mens event see the biggest contingent of foreign competitors taking part in any British cyclo-cross race this winter, but the race takes on especial importance following the postponement of the National Championships (due to the weather) which should have been held in Birmingham last weekend.

As a consequence, not only does the Whitwell based meeting conclude this season’s closely contested British Cycling National Trophy series, but it will now also be the last opportunity for riders to impress the selectors of the British team for the forthcoming World Championships in the Czech Republic at the end of the month.

With all the top British riders present and anxious to use the form that they had ‘honed’ for the National Championships to boost their final positions in the National Trophy series, the introduction of four top Belgian riders looks set to ignite a race already likely to be the fastest and most furiously contested event this winter.

Taking place on the shores of the beautiful lake at Whitwell Leisure Park (Rutland Water), leading the Belgian competitors will be Ben Berden, well placed in last weekends Belgian Elite Championships as was his compatriot Jan van Dael. However, much attention will be focussed on the rapidly improving form of Angelo De Clercq, who last weekend rode to sixth place in the Belgian Under 23’s championship and who is beginning to show the class that took his father, Mario, to three World Cyclo-cross championships in the late 90’s and early 2000’s as well as participation in the Tour de France.

British champion and winner at the last round of the National Trophy in Bradford, Jody Crawforth, wears number 3 for the final round at Rutland Water.

Whilst Mario no longer rides, he will be present at Whitwell acting as coach and helper to son Angelo. The Belgian quartet will be completed by another promising Under 23 rider, Thomas Venaekt, who finished 13th last weekend. “Securing the participation of top foreign competitors has been our main aim for this years Rutland County CiCLE Classic ‘Cross in order to raise the profile of the race and to begin to build it into the Winter version of the East Midlands International CiCLE Classic held each April,” said Race Director Colin Clews.

“The course to be used is designed to have both the feel and look of the top Belgian cyclo-cross events and we believe that it provides probably the best spectator friendly circuit in Britain. Anglian Water have been enthusiastic to assist in the technical development of the two plus kilometre circuit to be used for all the racing, with each lap featuring steps; hurdles, a mini ‘washboard’, plenty of sharp technical sections and the unique section along the foreshore of Rutland Water”.

As well as the main Elite men’s race which will start at 2.15 pm, there will be a full supporting programme of races for other ability and age categories from 10.30am onwards. This will include a race for Under 12’s for which there will be entry on the line. That race takes place at 12.30.

The younger riders race through the trees at Rutland in 2008.

The event is sponsored by Rutland County Council and is supported by the East Midlands Development Agency, MARS (UK) under their ‘Dolmio’ brand; Tim Norton Motor Services, in addition to Anglian Water and Abacus Equipment Hire. The event will also see the introduction to the CiCLE Classic races sponsors of extreme mountain clothing manufacturer, Dare2b, who will be providing clothing for all the officials at this event and the main CiCLE Classic this year.

Rutland Water Cycling, whose main centre is located close to the start and finish lines of the races, also provide support for the event and the Rutland Schools race which is being staged by Rutland County Council personnel at the same venue but over a shortened and simplified course on the day prior (Saturday 16th January) to the domestic and elite International races.

Entry for spectators to the venue is FREE.

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