New Circuit set to light up the Blackpool Nocturne

[veloriders]

Night time bike racing hits the streets of Blackpool on Saturday 21st August for the final round of the 2010 Nocturne Series. The 2010 Blackpool Nocturne will bring bike racing right into the heart of the resort on a new course that will start and finish outside the famous Winter Gardens. The 1km circuit will also see riders race through the ‘Brilliance’ sound and light show on Birley Street creating a unique audio and visual feature to the new course, “The new Blackpool Nocturne circuit is going to be visually stunning,” said James Pope from organisers Face Partnership. “The Brilliance light show will create a tunnel of lights and music which will create an extra dimension to the racing and will look fantastic once the darkness falls.”

The futuristic Blackpool illuminations will have their full impact during the Elite Criterium which will be the highlight of the race programme. Other races will include the Cycling Weekly Support Race, Youth Race, Dahon Folding Bike Race and a new feature race for 2010, the Blackpool Cycle Hire Challenge.

The Cycle Hire Challenge will provide the public the chance to get amongst the race action at the Nocturne. With the number of hire bikes set to expand to 500 by the end of the summer in Blackpool the event provides an excellent opportunity to celebrate the success of the cycle hire initiative.

Cllr Maxine Callow, Cabinet Member for Tourism and Regeneration, said: “Last year’s Nocturne Cycle race was a fantastic event and really drew the crowds in. I’m delighted that this year the race will travel through Brilliance, our wonderful new sound and light show.

“The Blackpool Cycle hire scheme has proved a great success since its launch last July. The programme began with a demonstration phase of 60 bikes split between the Promenade and Stanley Park but will now be extended across the town with 500 bikes across 70 docking stations by the end of the summer.”

The event will see members of the public race on Cycle Hire bikes with the winners decided by the first to correctly dock the bike after they have crossed the finish line. Heats will lead to a grand final giving competitors a chance to hone their skills on the Nocturne circuit.

Full details and online entry to the Cycle Hire Challenge and all the races can be found on www.blackpoolnocturne.com. The event is free to attend and the racing starts at 6pm.

This is the second year that Blackpool has welcomed the Nocturne Series to the resort with this event firmly establishing itself as regular for visitors and residents. The Nocturne is part of a series of events planned for the summer in Blackpool including UDO World Street Dance Championships from 27-29 August, Blackpool Illuminations Switch On Weekend from 3-5 Sept with the Illuminations shining until 7 Nov and World Fireworks Championships on 10-12 September.

The programme of events organised by visitBlackpool also highlights the resort’s top attractions and accommodation which visitors can enjoy by extending their stay. For further information on accommodation and offers for Nocturne and other events, please go to www.visitblackpool.com or Tel: 01253 478222.
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