Mammoth fields for Women’s/Junior Men’s CiCLE Classics

Mammoth fields for Women’s/Junior Men’s CiCLE Classics

EVENT PRESS RELEASE

With over 130 riders having entered both the ANEXO/CAMS CiCLE Classic races for Elite Women and the countries best junior cyclists Melton Mowbray looks set once again to be at the forefront of cycle sport in Britain once again next Sunday. The 8th Women’s and 10th Junior Men’s CiCLE Classics on local roads and tracks will be the first major events counting towards British Cycling’s prestigious National Road Race series for 2024.

Ben Marsh winning the Junior 2023 Edition of the CiCLE Classic

With around 130 riders lining up for each event, the race’s form the opening rounds of British Cycling’s 2024 national road race series for both categories. With both races being held over the same gruelling on and off road 105 kms course before finishing in the heart of Melton they provide the first real showdown of the year for both Britain’s Elite Women and aspiring male competitors.

Both races are always are hotly contested and this year is no different with both top British and European Women heading the Women’s race which starts at 2.00 pm, and Britain’s best aspiring Junior male cyclists signed up for each event both are expected to be hotly contested once again. With the character of both races embedded in the philosophy of the ‘true’ Spring Classic races of Northern Europe and offering prize lists in excess of most other British races, competition for the top places in each of the 105 kilometre races is expected to be high. In Olympic year many of Britain’s top Elite Women cyclists will in particular be wishing to place an early marker against their selection for Britain’s squad to race in Paris.

Above: Jess Finney winning the 2023 Edition of the Women’s Event

Last year’s Women’s race winner, Jessica Finney, riding this year for the renamed 2024 Doltcini-O’Shea team, will no doubt be looking to become the first Woman to win the race twice, although the importance of placing down an early season marker for Olympic selection will not be lost on the other 130 plus competitors. As to whether Finney can win the race twice, something never yet achieved, waits to be seen. With a massive £1000 first prize on offer, donated by Britain’s ‘Golden Girl of cycling, Laura Kenny, and prizes down to 20th place, there will be everything to ride for on the day, with Olympic selection an added motivator.

The junior men’s race starting at 9.30am held earlier in the day will see a new winner, with last year’s winner Ben Marsh (BCC) having moved on to the Senior ranks and already shown impressive form this year against his older counterparts. He will now be seen in action in April at the Rutland-Melton International CiCLE Classic.

Both events will start and finish in the centre of Melton Mowbray having taken in a gruelling 105 kms course.

Involving the hardest rural roads and tracks that East Leicestershire the Junior men start at 09.30 and finish around 12.00 noon, and the Elite Women follow on at 2.00pm and finish around 16.30 all from and to Sherrard Street, Melton Mowbray.

“Last year we held the two races for the first time at this earlier date, a few weeks in advance of the Men’s long established International race in April. Everyone then seemed to love the result.”, said Race Director Colin Clews. He continued, “The conditions had the feel of a ‘real’ Spring Classic with riders appearance at the finish similar to that seen at the Northern European races that the events are meant to emulate. So here we are again! Not without some issues however on this occasion as the new Distributor Road has meant the loss of the final off road section of Sawgate Lane after the first passage of Melton. We are therefore grateful to Stapleford Estate for allowing these earlier races to add in the longer off road section through the beautiful park land as the new final challenge for competitors in all our races this year.”

Above: Somerberg

Once again the events will receive sponsorship from the ANEXO Group and CAMS, and will offer the biggest prize funds within the UK Women’s and Junior Men’s race calendars with £1000 and £200 first prizes respectively. Further support of the first prizes in both races is provided by Dame Laura Kenny, whose name will once again be carried on the winner’s trophies.

Additional sponsorship wis provided by Melton BID, Schwalbe UK, and on this occasion MiSupplies who will sponsor the Queen and King of the Bergs (Climbers) competition within both races as well as at the Men’s International race on 28th April. The Women’s CiCLE Classic will be one of the countries major targets for domestic teams this year and the competition for the win is bound to be intense with several teams bringing along their non British riders to strengthen their challenge.

BACKGROUND.
The Women’s and Junior Men’s CiCLE Classics are both British Cycling National Series races for their respective categories. In 2024 the Women’s race will have its 8th edition and the Junior Men their 10th edition. Both races are held over the same 105 kms course featuring many of the unique and best components of the International Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic which has been held since 2005. The latter remains Britain’s ONLY Men’s single day international road race.

The Women’s and Junior Men’s CiCLE Classics will take place on a new date of Sunday 17th March, starting and finishing in Melton Mowbray. Start time for the Junior Men is 09.30 hrs and 14.00 for the Women. Both events are expected to take just over 2 and a half hours to complete. The international race between Oakham, Rutland’s county town, and nearby Melton Mowbray, will then take place a month later on Sunday 28th April.

Superstar in the Pro peloton, Josh Tarling, winning the Junior Men’s CiCLE Classic

WHERE TO SEE THE RACE

In 2024 the opportunities to view the two races are numerous. For the enthusiastic spectator the race is possibly the most spectator friendly races to ever watch. it is possible to see the race in over 7-8 places during its circuitous route from Melton back to Melton.

Suggestions:

1. The START in Melton town centre with the start of the Junior Men at 09.30 and the Elite Women at 14.00.
2. In Somerby for the first passage of the race there.
3. Owston or Burrough on the Hill for the races 5/6 passages through those villages. At Owston enjoy the party atmosphere of the day, or enjoy a more relaxed view of the race from The ‘Stag & Hounds’ Public House at Burrough over Sunday lunch and or a welcome drink.
4. The top of Cold Overton hill for the second Queen/King of the Hills climb.
5. Or onto ‘Somerberg’ (Bruce’s Lane) for the ultimate CiCLE Classic experience .
6. The entry or exit of the penultimate rough sector of the race at Stapleford Park a few miles distant from Melton. Sadly, you may not however then catch the finish.
7. In Melton town centre for the first passage and then spectacular finish of the junior Men’s race, and the first passage of the town by the riders in the Women’s race who will contest a sprint for the ‘Pork Pie’ sprint award donated by Dickenson & Morris before commencing their finishing circuit via Burton Lazers and Stapleford.
8. At the FINISH in Sherrard Street around 12.00 noon for the Junior Men, and 16.30 for the Women.

Above: Owston

Hot & cold drinks and snacks will be available at various locations on and around the course.

Please allow plenty of time to get from one point to another and be prepared to encounter the road closures which will apply as soon as the race approaches and will apply until the last of the ‘effective’ race passes. Also please remember to park your cars well off the road especially if parking on any of the many narrow roads that the race uses particularly around Owston and Burrough on the Hill.

If viewing at Owston please use the identified car parks and always obey any instructions from race marshals.

Have a great viewing day!

WOMENS STARTLIST
1 Jessica Finney Doltcini – OShea
2 Georgia Bullard Doltcini – OShea
3 Isabel Darvill Doltcini – OShea
4 Tilly McKibben – U23 Doltcini – OShea
5 Niamh Murphy – U23 Doltcini – OShea
6 Libby Smithson – U23 Doltcini – OShea
7 Keira Bond – U23 Alba Development Road Team
8 Arianne Holland Alba Development Road Team
9 Emma Matthews Alba Development Road Team
10 Beth Morrow – U23 Alba Development Road Team
11 Abi Plowman Alba Development Road Team
12 Eilidh Shaw – U23 Alba Development Road Team
13 Millie Skinner Alba Development Road Team
14 Amelia Tyler – U23 Alba Development Road Team
15 Lily Brindle – JR Brother UK – On Form
16 Lotty Dawson – U23 Brother UK – On Form
17 Madeleine Gammons Brother UK – On Form
18 Hope Inglis – U23 Brother UK – On Form
19 Electra Morris – JR Brother UK – On Form
20 Rosie Simmons Brother UK – On Form
21 Amelia Staunton – JR Brother UK – On Form
22 Grace Ward – JR Brother UK – On Form
23 Sian Botteley DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK
24 Frankie Hall DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK
25 Sophie Lewis – U23 DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK
26 Caoimhe O’Brien – U23 DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK
27 Darcie Richards DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK
28 Sophie Thackray DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK
29 Morven Yeoman – U23 DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK
30 Sannah Zaman – U23 DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK
31 Caitlin Harvey – U23 Doltcini – Cycle Division
32 Jacqueline Kinsey – U23 Doltcini – Cycle Division
33 Hannah McClorey – U23 Doltcini – Cycle Division
34 Amy Mourne – U23 Doltcini – Cycle Division
35 Lindsay Toy – U23 Doltcini – Cycle Division
36 Harriet Evans FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing
37 Rebecca Hair FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing
38 Marie-Louise Kertzman FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing
39
40
41 Laura Pittard FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing
42 Vivienne Tomlin FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing
43 Rosie Wayland FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing
44 Nicole Frain Hess Cycling Team
45 Grace Lister – U23 Hess Cycling Team
46 Johanna Martini- U23 Hess Cycling Team
47 Alice McWilliam Hess Cycling Team
48 Holly Ramsey – U23 Hess Cycling Team
49
50 Liv Wenzel – U23 Hess Cycling Team
51 Lulu Bartlett Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
52 Laura Davies Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
53 Kirstie Drakeford – U23 Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
54 Lola Ellis – U23 Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
55 Nicola Greenwood Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
56 Isabella Johnson – U23 Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
57 Rebekah Nash Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
58 Carys Blowers – JR Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films
59 Millie Jenkins – JR Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films
60 Megan Lloyd – JR Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films
61 Jess Pickavance – JR Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films
62 Jessica Rich – JR Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films
63 Grace Bell – JR London Academy
64
65 Katy Hill London Academy
66 Lucy Neatham London Academy
67 Esme Wiley – JR London Academy
68 Penny Colloff Loughborough Lightning
69 Lucy Harris Loughborough Lightning
70 Jayati Hine Loughborough Lightning
71 Miriam Jessett Loughborough Lightning
72 Alice Lethbridge Loughborough Lightning
73 Georgina Oakley Loughborough Lightning
74 Anya Tamplin Loughborough Lightning
75 Mary Wilkinson Loughborough Lightning
76 Jessy Carveth Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd
77 Bexy Dew Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd
78 Lucy Ellmore – U23 Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd
79 Amy Gornall Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd
80 Maddie Heywood Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd
81 Corrine Side Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd
82 Annabel Ramsay – U23 Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd
83 Jo Tindley Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd
84 Hannah Bayes Saint Piran WRT
85 Anastasia Bowler Saint Piran WRT
86 Katie-Anne Calton – U23 Saint Piran WRT
87 Rachel Galler Saint Piran WRT
88 Sophie Holmes Saint Piran WRT
89 Elizabeth McKinnon – U23 Saint Piran WRT
90 Ailsa McLagan Saint Piran WRT
91 Alice Colling – JR Shibden Apex RT
92 Lucy Glover – JR Shibden Apex RT
93 Isabel Mayes – JR Shibden Apex RT
94 Ruby Oakes – JR Shibden Apex RT
95 Evie Smith – JR Shibden Apex RT
96 Megan Anderson Team Boompods
97
98 Amy Drysdale Team Boompods
99 Elizabeth Hermolle Team Boompods
100 Sian Marsh Team Boompods
101 Gemma Mitchell Team Boompods
102 Lucy Benezet Minns – JR Tofauti Everyone Active
103 Erin Boothman – JR Tofauti Everyone Active
104 Amelia Cebak – JR Tofauti Everyone Active
105 Rebecca Gardiner – JR Tofauti Everyone Active
106 Mari Porton – JR Tofauti Everyone Active
107 Ella Tandy – JR Tofauti Everyone Active
108 Peggy Simpkins – U23 Banbury Star CC
109 Ellen McDermott Keukens Redant Cycling Team
110 Lucy Gadd LC Race Team
111 Eluned King – U23 Lifeplus Wahoo
112 Sasha Halsey London Dynamo
113 Mia Rutterford – JR Montezuma’s Race Team
114 Emma McDonald Paceline RT
115 Cecilia Hime Paradigm Cycles
116 Charlotte Deykin Peterborough Cycle Hub
117 Amelia Walton – JR Shibden Cycling Club
118 Zoe Parker – JR Solihull CC
119 Xan Crees Spectra Racing
120 Laura Senior Spectra Racing
121 Melissa Denman Stolen Goat Race Team
122 Monica Greenwood Team Coop-Hitec Products
123 Amy Kolbert – JR Team Pau
124 Kim Baptista Torelli
125 Florence Griffin – JR Utmost-Mezzo IOM Junior Cycling
126 Sophie Smith – JR Utmost-Mezzo IOM Junior Cycling
127 Helen Auden BC Private Member
128 Amy Henchoz BC Private Member
129 Lydia Turan – JR BC Private Member
130 Aliyah Rafferty – JR Tofauti Everyone Active
131 Maddie Leech – U23 Lifeplus Wahoo
132 Frankie Morgans-Slader BC Private Member

127 starters

JUNIOR MEN
1 Jack Beveridge Avid Sport
2 Dylan Cherruault Avid Sport
3 Theo Hester Avid Sport
4 Finlay Mowat Avid Sport
5 Josh Smith Avid Sport
6 Kai Buckley Beeston Cycling Club
7 Thomas Lewis Beeston Cycling Club
8 Evan Marsh Beeston Cycling Club
9 Evan Schofield Beeston Cycling Club
10 James Sweeney Beeston Cycling Club
11 Benjamin Arey Clifton CC
12 Daniel Kemp Clifton CC
13 Oliver Moss Clifton CC
14 Charlie Thorpe Clifton CC
15 Sebastian Anderson Eastern Region
16 Stanley Cooke Eastern Region
17 Peter Ferguson Eastern Region
18 Benjamin Myers Eastern Region
19 Paul Opie Eastern Region
20 William Pollard Eastern Region
21 Dillon Air East Midlands Region
22 Jenson Buttrick East Midlands Region
23 Benjamin Freeman East Midlands Region
24 Noah Inman East Midlands Region
25 Kyan Souquet East Midlands Region
26 Luca Bednarek Fensham Howes – MAS Design
27 Harrison Dainty Fensham Howes – MAS Design
28 Max Hinds Fensham Howes – MAS Design
29 Hudson Hendry Halesowen A and CC
30 Isaak Herbert Halesowen A and CC
31 Kaleb Herbert Halesowen A and CC
32 Luke Mannings Halesowen A and CC
33 Ryan Oldfield Halesowen A and CC
34 Ryu Roberts Hayamizu Halesowen A and CC
35 Emil Howell Harrogate Nova Race Team
36 Magnus Denwood Harrogate Nova Race Team
37 Louis Herring Harrogate Nova Race Team
38 Harry Hudson Harrogate Nova Race Team
39 Isaac Oliver Harrogate Nova Race Team
40 Spencer Corder HUUB BCC Race Team
41 Ahron Dick HUUB BCC Race Team
42 Callum Jones HUUB BCC Race Team
43 Lewis Tinsley HUUB BCC Race Team
44 Charlie Abraham Lee Valley Youth Cycling Club
45 Edward Charles Lee Valley Youth Cycling Club
46 William Gilbank Lee Valley Youth Cycling Club
47 Reece Pittman Lee Valley Youth Cycling Club
48 Alec Rowles Lee Valley Youth Cycling Club
49 Huw Watkins Lee Valley Youth Cycling Club
50 Alex Hodgkins Otley CC
51 James Luxton Otley CC
52 Zack Miles Otley CC
53 Sam Barbour Ribble rechrg Race Team
54 Ted McDaid Ribble rechrg Race Team
55
56 Samuel Abbott Shibden Apex RT
57 Matthew Bell Shipden Apex RT
58 Denholm Edwards Shipden Apex RT
59 Charlie Hoyle Shibden Apex RT
60 Cillian Lewis Shibden Apex RT
61 Alexander Murphy Shibden Apex RT
62 Lucas Bada Team Pau
63 Iwan Clark Team Pau
64 Felix Earth Team Pau
65 Sion Jones Team Pau
66 Noah Bleteau The Cycling Academy
67 Vyaan Dhokia The Cycling Academy
68 Alasdair Easton The Cycling Academy
69 Milo McIntosh The Cycling Academy
70 Jake Speed The Cycling Academy
71 Ruan Vorster The Cycling Academy
72 Jack Cook trainSharp Development Team
73 Mak Larkin trainSharp Development Team
74 Oscar Nisbett trainSharp Development Team
75 Daniel Phillips trainSharp Development Team
76 James Sawyers trainSharp Development Team
77 Samuel Stapleton trainSharp Development Team
78 William Curphey Utmost-Mezzo IOM Junior Cycling
79 Cian Howard Utmost-Mezzo IOM Junior Cycling
80 Ivan Sorby Utmost-Mezzo IOM Junior Cycling
81 Dylan Belton Owen VC Londres
82 Isaac Dutton VC Londres
83 Sidney Dutton VC Londres
84 Luke Meyer-Eland VC Londres
85 August Ora VC Londres
86 Bobby Buenfeld Velo Club Venta
87 Alistair Gardner Velo Club Venta
88 Hamish Hunter Velo Club Venta
89 Dylan Sage Cannibal B Victorious
90 Oscar Amey GKR Racing
91 Alfie Amey GKR Racing
92 Bertie Bruce-Gonzalez GS Mossa
93 Hugh Aubrey Histon & Impington Bicycle Club
94 Declan Oldham Hope Tech Factory Racing
95 Rowan Baxter Huddersfield Star Wheelers
96 Oscar Saxton Huddersfield Star Wheelers
97 Tommy Stroud Ignite
98 Evan Williams Ignite
99 Owain Williams London Dynamo
100 Orry Lund Manx Viking Wheelers CC
101 George Watch Mid Devon CC
102 George Mahon Poole Wheelers CC
103 Nathan Smith Prologue Racing Team
104 Joseph Turnbull Prologue Racing Team
105 Steffan Hunt Rhyl Cycling Club
106 Joel Hurt Ribble – Verge Sport
107 Ben Baker Ride Revolution Coaching
108 Tom Pruett ROTOR Race Team
109 Rhys Edwards Scotland
110 Oliver Walker Scotland
111 Ben Coppola SCOTT Racing
112 Samuel Brownsword Solihull CC
113 Isaac Pembery St Ives CC
114 Thomas Hepton Team Bikestop Tyrekey 3FS
115 James Kinrade Team RL360 Isle Of Man
116 Struan Shaw Tofauti Everyone Active
117 Jamie Stewart Tofauti Everyone Active
118 Bryn Lawrence U.C. Casano
119 Huw Cressey-Rodgers Velo Myrddin CC powered by Y Beic
120 Sam Fisher Wales Racing Academy
121 Harley Gregory West Suffolk Wheelers
122 Mackenzie Riley Zappi Junior Race Team
123 Elliot Fraser 360cycling
124 Aidan Worden 360cycling
125 Luke Gibson 4T Cyclopark
126 Jack Sutton BC Private Member
127 Zach Walters BC Private Member
128 Arthur Yates BC Private Member
No. of Starters 127 (1 DNS so far)