UCI Verenti Cheshire Cat Full!

News just in from Cheshire Cat HQ ahead of the season-opening Cheshire Cat sportive. We were lucky enough to get an entry so will be reporting back on the event (and on how the early season fitness is looking...)

Entries close this weekend (Sunday evening, 21st March) for the UK cyclosportive season's big opener in Cheshire. 2,700 riders have signed up for either the 45, 67 or full-on 100 miles version. Starting from the prestigious Alexandra Stadium - home to Crewe Alexandra FC - from 8:30am on Sunday 28th March, all but the 45 mile option riders face the famous Mow Cop ‘killer mile' (pictured right) after 15 miles.

The organisers said "We figure Mow Cop earlier in the ride this year to give people the best chance of earning their medal for not stopping or walking up."

Riders will still see evidence of the hard winter this year as they take in views of snow still lying in the Peak District and North Wales. Then it's a not so hilly meander through rural Cheshire out towards the Marches and back through the famous clock-making town of Whitchurch. With pre and post ride food available at the HQ, 3 feed-stations en-route and qualified massage riders are well looked after at this ever popular event.

There are always a few well-knowns in the rider list and one such this year is 1989 Tour de France stage winner Martin Earley. Dubliner Earley, now a local rider settled in the Potteries, rode into Pau that year onto an epic solo victory.

The event will also be showcasing Verenti bikes at the HQ - the first time the public will be able to take a close look at Wiggle's own brand of bike aimed squarely at the sportive rider.

UCI Verenti Cheshire Cat has a new charity partner for 2010, Cancer Research. Event sponsorship comes from HIGH5 isotonic, Chatwins the award winning Cheshire baker and Visit Chester and Cheshire.