NORTHERN ROCK CYCLONE

[veloriders]

NORTHERN ROCK CYCLONE CHALLENGE ON TRACK TO BECOME UK’S BIGGEST SPORTIVE. The Northern Rock Cyclone Challenge is on track to become the UK’s biggest sportive, according to organiser Peter Harrison.
If entries for the event, which takes place on Saturday 12 June as part of the Northern Rock Cyclone weekend of cycling, continue at their current rate it will become the UK’s biggest sportive.

Peter Harrison said: “This year’s Northern Rock Cyclone is more exciting than ever. It seems to have become the must-do ride in many cyclists’ calendars. Every year the Northern Rock Cyclone weekend has been bigger and better than before – and 2010 is no exception.”

Entries are currently up an impressive 94% on last year, when nearly 2,500 riders took the roads around Newcastle and Northumberland.

There are three different routes available. Ride A is 33 miles, already has more than 400 entries and is extremely popular with families. More than 2,500 riders have also signed up for Ride B (63 miles) and Ride C (104 miles). Both of these tough challenges share gruelling climbs with the pro’s Beaumont Trophy, which takes place the following day (Sunday 13 June).

The Northern Rock Cyclone Challenge is a fantastically supported sportive. Sponsors such as Traidcraft, Delmonte and Powerade all supply feed stations along the routes to fuel riders. To try to make sure everyone makes it to the end, this year’s event will feature four support vehicles from Shimano and one Continental Tyre Service car. Also, 12 National Escort Group motorcycle outriders will warn traffic of riders to maximise safety. At the end of the event, riders can check their times thanks to a professional Sport Ident timing system.

As well as having fun, many riders raise money for charity too. In 2009, riders raised £150,000 for charities. Ideas of who you could raise money for can be found at www.northernrockcyclone.co.uk.

The Northern Rock Cyclone weekend is a massive weekend on cycling in Newcastle. It kicks off on Friday (11 June) night with the Leazes Park Criterium races. The Northern Rock Cyclone Challenge sportive then takes place on Saturday (12 June). The weekend comes to a head on the Sunday (13 June) with the Beaumont Trophy Premier Calendar race. Won in 2009 by Tour de France and Olympic star Bradley Wiggins, the race takes in the beautiful – and challenging riding – of the Northumberland countryside.

Full details of the weekend, including details of how you can ride the Northern Rock Cyclone Challenge, are available at www.northernrockcyclone.co.uk. You can also follow the event on Twitter at www.twitter.com/nrcyclone and by joining the ‘Northern Rock Cyclone’ group on Facebook.
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