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Location: Stamfordham, Northumberland
Event: Sunday 1 July 2012
Both races are part of Virgin Money Cyclone weekend –
2012 Premier Calendar Road Race Series |
Now in it’s 60th year, the Beaumont Trophy returns for 2012 as part of the Premier Calendar series after last year being the Elite National Road Race Championships.
Brief race history
The Beaumont Trophy was first run in 1952 and was presented by Rex Beaumont, a cycle and motorcycle wholesaler based in Newcastle. The first edition of the race was won by Stan Blair riding for Viking Cycles and started and finished in Gosforth Park.
Since then Beaumont Trophy winners have included Bradley Wiggins, Chris Newton, Russell Downing, Malcolm Elliott and Don Sanderson to name but a few. The most prolific winner of the Trophy is Ray Wetherell who won it five times. Bradley Wiggins has won the Beaumont twice, once to become National Champion in 2011.
The race uses a combination of two circuits. The larger circuit is 22.3 miles and includes the the famous Ryals climb which will be tackled three times by the riders. Once the big circuit has been completed the riders move onto the finishing circuit of 13.9 miles which will be completed three times making a total race distance of 108 miles.
The Curlew Cup
The Curlew Cup is a new event for 2012 and follows on from the success of the Women’s National Championships event on the same course in 2011. Sponsored by Northumberland National Park, The Curlew Cup takes place on the morning of the Beaumont Trophy.
This 13.9 mile circuit includes a testing climb up through Wallridge and on towards Ingoe. The race will pass through the villages of Matfen and Stamfordham 4 times before finishing in Stamfordham at the end of the fourth lap.
Event area location
Stamfordham, Northumberland.
Race HQ location including postcode
Stamfordham Village Hall, Stamfordham. NE18 0LA
Race start times
Curlew Cup: 9.30am
Beaumont Trophy: 1.00pm
Racing type
Women’s National Road Race Series / Men’s Premier Calendar Road Race Series
Update on competitor information
All updates are on event website www.virginmoneycyclone.co.uk
Spectator information
Both races start and finish in the village of Stamfordham. It has two pubs and a Village Hall with toilets etc. Stamfordham is a great place to soak in the race atmosphere and get up close and personal to the star riders.
The Beaumont Trophy race begins at 1pm and riders complete three laps of the 22.3 mile circuit that was used for the 2011 Men’s National Road Race Championships, including the climb of the Ryals. On completion of the third lap of the larger circuit, riders will then go on to the smaller finishing circuit of 13.9 miles as used in the women’s event. This will be completed three times making a total distance of 108 miles
Please note spectators will not be allowed to park in the centre of the small village of Stamfordham and will be directed to designated parking areas just outside the village. More details will be given in the programme available on race day and parking areas will be well signposted.
Best places for spectators
The Ryals climb, near Ryal village is a perfect place to watch the Beaumont Trophy. Spectators can see the peloton approaching in the distance and then watch the riders suffer as they climb the tortuous hill. Stamfordham village centre is another great spectator spot, after the finish the top placed riders will be showering the crowd with champagne from the British Cycling event podium.
Riders to watch out for
In the men's event the all conquering Endura Racing team will once again be the boys to beat. They've had a clean sweep of wins in the Premier Calendar races so far this season. The other teams will need to up their game and tactics if they want to take home the Beaumont Trophy. The elite riders have had a strict diet of one hour criteriums for the last few weeks broken only by the National Championship Road Race at Ampleforth last weekend, it might be a shock for a few riders to once again be riding 100 + miles. The Beaumont Trophy is a true test and only the top riders will have any chance of winning.
The organiser predicts
British Cycling contacted race organiser Peter Harrison and asked him for a prediction for his races, he said: “The Beaumont Trophy Premier Calendar will once again be a great finale to the jam-packed Virgin Money Cyclone weekend and the addition of The Curlew Cup women's race in the morning will just make the day even better.”
Race report and images will appear here on the British Cycling website.
